1,500 vulnerable families to benefit from Deepavali gift packs
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The aim of the Lighting Hearts Lighting Homes initiative in 2020 is to reach out to 1,500 families.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Follow topic:
SINGAPORE - A group of some 350 volunteers under the annual Lighting Hearts Lighting Homes initiative will be distributing festive gift packs to vulnerable families from Sunday (Nov 1) to Saturday (Nov 7).
In the spirit of Deepavali, the initiative, which is in its eighth year, rallied the support of the community. Some 130 home-based bakers and festive bag packers, with help from 200 driver volunteers, raised a total of $204,000 in donations.
The aim this year is to reach out to 1,500 families. Each gift pack includes $120 cash packets, Deepavali candles, Suji cookies made by volunteers, NTUC vouchers contributed by the Singapore-Indian Development Association (Sinda), as well as handwritten notes by students from the Sinda learning centres.
Since 2018, the initiative has been partnering nursing home Sree Narayana Mission to connect with more beneficiaries in need.
Ms A. Vigneswari, 26, who was part of the organising committee, said that the initiative has seen an increase in the number of beneficiaries during the Covid-19 pandemic, and hopes to be able to help them tide through these difficult times.
<p>TMLHLH2020/TM20201101_202008564422/Ng Sor Luan/T. Bala/Lighting Hearts Lighting Homes 2020 charity grounds up initiative in it's 8th year running will bring festive cheer to needy families in Singapore during deepavali. Between 1 Nov to 7 Nov, volunteers will distribute deepavali gift packs to 1500 families to their homes. The volunteer group have fundraised a total of $204,000 this year, and with 130 home-based bakers, festive bag packers and 200 driver volunteers, we will be reaching out to 1500 families this year.</p>
PHOTO: ST
