SINGAPORE - Thousands of needy residents in Bedok received an extra bag of groceries on Sunday morning, as part of a volunteer initiative by NTUC FairPrice and the Bedok and Braddell Heights grassroots organisations.
Volunteers went door to door handing out items such as oil, milk powder, sardines, biscuits and vermicelli to some 3,000 households in the estate.
Another 2,000 bags were also pledged to low-income residents in Braddell, bringing the total donations to $250,000.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and grassroots adviser for East Coast GRC, Mr Lim Swee Say, joined the volunteers in distributing the items.
Bedok resident Baydah Abdul Rahman, 84, who lives in a three-room flat with her daughter, said she was happy and grateful to receive the donation. "It's very helpful. I like the milk - I drink it every day," said Madam Baydah.
FairPrice administrative officer Rosziya Rahmat, 49, who was one of the volunteers, is no stranger to community work. She started volunteering for various non-profit organisations 15 years ago, and still does so when she has free time.
"I love to volunteer. To me it's an eye opener. Some of the less fortunate don't speak up and just isolate themselves," she said. "It's important for us to reach out."
Last month, FairPrice announced that it would be doubling its volunteers' programme target from the 2,300 hours clocked in volunteerism last year to 5,000 hours this year.
