Reaching out to youths
1. Canossaville Children's Home
Offering residential care to girls aged between six years to 12 years, Canossaville Children's Home works with girls who come from family situations which may put them at risk. A student-care centre offers before and after school care for primary school boys and girls.
Website: www.cch.org.sg
2. AG Home
A shelter for troubled teenagers, AG Home was formerly known as Andrew and Grace Home. It houses teenage girls who are either juvenile delinquents that are beyond parental control or are victims of sexual or physical abuse. Some of the girls will be employed as Christmas helpers to wrap presents and sell the Watsons Christmas catalogue at $2 each. Half of the sales proceeds will go to the home. Donation boxes have also been set up in stores.
Website: www.aghome.org.sg
3. Lutheran Community Care Services
The group reaches out to families, children and youths-at-risk, especially those who have dropped out of school. It provides counselling work, family intervention, life skills workshops and enrichment programmes.
Website: lccs.org.sg
4. Jamiyah Children's Home
Jamiyah Children's Home provides care and shelter to orphans and children of single parents, drug detainees, abused and dysfunctional families. They offer educational programmes, as well as those in sports, recreation and character development.
Website: jch.jamiyah.org.sg
5. Students Care Service
Students Care Service offers counsellingand guidance to students with social, emotional, behavioural and learning issues through group work, talks and workshops.
Website: www.students.org.sg
6. FaithActs
A non-profit organisation, FaithActs organises activities, such as reading programmes and tuition classes, to help children and youths in their studies and character development. It also has programmes for the needy, the disadvantaged and the elderly.
Website: www.faithacts.org.sg
7. YMCA Project Bridge
A direct service arm of YMCA of Singapore, YMCA Project Bridge opened a vocational development centre this year to provide at-risk youths with certified training in hairdressing, make-up, hospitality in food & beverage and baking.
Website: www.ymca.org.sg
8. Changi Foundation
The Changi Airport Group launched the Changi Foundation in April this year to help youths-at-risk.
In addition to working with other organisations like Boys' Town and Assumption Pathway School, the Changi Foundation will offer book prizes and bursaries for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and experiential programmes in the airport and service industries.
Website: www.changiairportgroup.com
Support for the less privileged
1.Blooms of Hope
A project by Reach Family Service Centre, Blooms of Hope helps women from low-income families be financially self-reliant. Started in August, it holds weekly flower arrangement, hamper- and gift-making classes for these women and helps them sell their works.
Website: www.facebook.com/blooms ofhope.reachfsc
2. LoveFAD (Love for A Dollar)
A student-led initiative by Anderson Junior College and The Salvation Army, the volunteers provide gift-wrapping services at shopping malls in exchange for donations. All donations will go to The Salvation Army. The volunteers will be at Changi City Point Mall, JCube, IMM, Tampines Mall and The Centrepoint from tomorrow to Dec 24 from 11am to 9.30pm.
Website: www.lovefad.wordpress.com
3. Viriya Community Services
A charity founded in 2001, it provides community and social services to low-income families here. In 2010, it launched a medical fund for children from these families who require long-term medical care.
Website: www.viriya.org.sg
4. nEbO's Care Community
Made up of student activists with the aim of giving back to society, it is the junior membership arm of NTUC Club and the Care Community. It will be holding a nationwide food collection drive on Jan 12 to help over 6,000 needy families under Shan You Counselling Centre.
Website: www.nebo.sg
5. Man Fut Tong Welfare Society
This Christmas, more than 100 volunteers from the charity and Eunos Community Club grassroots leaders will be baking 50 log cakes to distribute to 50 welfare homes. Every month, the society also provides free lunches and distributes basic essentials to elderly residents under the Public Assistance Scheme.
Email: manfuttong@gmail.com
6. Sinda
The Singapore Indian Development Association (Sinda) runs a yearly donation drive, Project Give. The money goes towards bursaries for students from needy families.
To donate, go to www.projectgive.org.sg. Project Give will run until Dec 31.
7. Change Community Services
The non-profit organisation runs a learning centre and community projects for the socially and financially disadvantaged. Centre teachers coach students to improve study techniques and motivate them. Change also offers sponsorship schemes.
Website: jirehang.wix.com/changecs
8. Food From The Heart
Each month, more than 4,000 volunteers from the community outreach programme distribute bread and pastries to 153 welfare homes and self-collection centres. The charity partners companies and grassroots organisations to run 26 self-collection centres.
Website: www.foodfromtheheart.org
Helping the elderly
1. Lions Befrienders Service Association
The voluntary welfare organisation that reaches out to vulnerable and lonely seniors in Singapore will be organising a car rally on Jan 13. This event is to raise funds for outreach programmes organised by the association's six senior activities centres. Participants will compete alongside Lions Befrienders' beneficiaries.
Website: www.charityamazingrace.com/
2. Apex Club of Singapore
Every Saturday, volunteers from Apex Club of Singapore distribute groceries to needy elderly at Jalan Bukit Merah.
Funds are raised through collecting and selling old newspapers and clothing.
The Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation started providing long-term funding in 2009 with its Groceries with Heart programme.
Interested volunteers can contact Mr Leslie Low at low_beng_soon@hotmail.com and Mr Yeo Chao Loy at ychaoloy@singnet.com.sg
3. Ju Eng Home for Senior Citizens
The Sloane Clinic's doctors and staff will be serving snacks and singing carols at Ju Eng Home for Senior Citizens on Dec 27. Members of the public can join the event.
The charity offers residential, rehabilitative and social care services.
Donations of daily essentials and food stuff can also be made at charity boxes at The Sloane Clinic's branches.
Websites: www.juenghome.org.sg
4. Singapore Assisi Home
Acapella group Vocaluptuous is hoping to raise $80,000 to buy a passenger van for Singapore Assisi Home.
All proceeds above the production cost of its new Christmas CD, 'Tis The Season, will go towards the cause.
The CDs, priced at $20 each, are sold at Starbucks outlets, PS Cafe outlets, Bodyworks Studio and The Esplanade Shop.
Bringing cheer to the sick
1. Love Is Loud
The Love is Loud project was started by radio DJ Emily Teng, 25. About 50 volunteers bring cheer to children with terminal illnesses in KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
It also runs lunch parties for underprivileged children and youth.
Potential volunteers can find out more at a Christmas event on Dec16 at 298, River Valley Road.
Website: http://blessingsinabag.org/
2. Tan Tock Seng Hospital Community Charity Fund
Set up in 1995, this fund helps needy patients and their families with their treatment, equipment or services needs. It also supports medical research and education. Hospital staff have recorded a Christmas CD this year, available at the TTSH Heritage Museum. All proceeds of the $18 CD will go to the fund.
Website: www.ttsh.com.sg/community-charity-fund
3. HCA Hospice Care
This registered charity provides comfort and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses. It organises an annual Christmas event, Project Home Cheer, where volunteers visit patients in their homes to deliver gifts.
Website: www.hca.org.sg
4. Rare Disorders Society (Singapore)
This non-profit organisation creates awareness about life-threatening rare diseases.
All proceeds from the sale of a charity CD, Christmas In Singapore - at stores such as Starbucks, The Esplanade Shop and Books Actually - will go to the society. The album can also be downloaded at http://christmasinsingapore.bandcamp.com/
5. Arc Children's Centre
Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort and Spa has been holding an annual charity golf tournament since 2006 to raise funds for Arc Children's Centre, a non-profit centre that provides day care for children aged three to 18 who are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.
Website: www.arcchildren.org
6. M.A.C Aids Fund
Cosmetics brand M.A.C established an Aids Fund in 1994 to support people with HIV/Aids.
All proceeds from the sale of the Viva Glam Lipstick and Lipglass go to the fund, which gives financial support to organisations working with under-served populations.
Website: www.macaidsfund.org/
7. Club Rainbow
Hotel Fort Canning has launched a reusable Ladybird Shopper Bag to help raise funds for Club Rainbow.
All funds raised will go towards helping more than 500 children with major chronic and potentially life-threatening illnesses. The bags, at $10 each, are sold at the hotel, The Glass House, Gattopardo and The Legends Fort Canning Park.
Website: www.clubrainbow.org
Helping the needy and ex-offenders
1. Yellow Ribbon Project
Launched in 2004, the charity hopes to promote a more accepting society, one willing to give ex-offenders a second chance at making good.
Donations received for the charity are channelled to the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which pays for programmes that rehabilitate and reintegrate ex-offenders as well as support families affected by their loved ones' incarceration.
Website: www.yellowribbon.org.sg/yellow-ribbon-fund/index.html
2. Industrial & Services Co-operative Society Ltd (ISCOS)
ISCOS is a social organisation that aims to help ex-offenders reintegrate and become productive members of society.
Established in 1989, it now has over 13,000 members and offers various programmes and initiatives ranging from employment and skills training to family-bonding activities.
Website: www.iscos.org.sg
3. Prison Fellowship Singapore
A Christian voluntary welfare organisation with the Singapore Prison Services, it works with a network of churches, Christian organisations, halfway houses, employment agencies like Score, the prison authorities and a pool of more than 400 volunteers.
It offers services in pre-sentence care, in-care and aftercare for inmates and their families.
Website: www.pfsing.org.sg
4. Agape Village
The Roman Catholic Church is undertaking a project to build a one-stop help centre for the needy called Agape Village, which will bring together its 23 charity and community organisations under one roof.
The Church aims to raise $15 million for the project. Those who wish to donate can go to the website or visit any of the 31 parishes to find out more.
Website: http://caritas-singapore.org/AgapeVillage.html
5. The Boys' Brigade Share-A-Gift Project
The Share-A-Gift Project by the youth-focused Christian organisation hands out gifts to the less fortunate in Singapore during the Christmas season.
This year, the annual project takes place between Nov 20 and Dec 19. The public can participate by donating or delivering gifts to more than 30,000 beneficiaries.
Website: www.bbshare.sg
6. Mercy Relief
Gleneagles Hospital's very own doctor-nurse band, D'Nightingales and Frenz, is raising funds for Mercy Relief through the sale of its debut album Will You Remember, which is fully funded by the hospital.
About 1,000 copies of the album have been produced and are available for sale at all four Parkway Pantai hospitals - Gleneagles Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Parkway East Hospital. Albums are priced at $10 each.
Website: http://www.mercyrelief.org
7. St John's Home for Elderly Persons
A non-profit charitable organisation that shelters and cares for elderly people without homes or family members to look after them.
The home is not funded by the Government and is largely dependent on fees paid by residents who can afford it and public donations.
Website: www.stjohneldershome.org.sg
A non-profit organisation that aims to empower the lives of under-privileged youth and children in Singapore and other developing countries.
It raises funds for education-related initiatives and programmes.
Website: www.projecthappyfeet.org
