Mrs Chantel Lee, 33, a finalist in the Mrs QOS Worldwide International Singapore beauty pageant, handing a donated pillow yesterday to Ms Rahimah, a Telok Blangah Crescent resident.

Ms Rahimah is a beneficiary of Keeping Hope Alive, an informal network of volunteers who visit rental flats in Singapore every Sunday. Founder Fion Phua, 47, said the group assesses the needs of beneficiaries during the weekly visits, tailoring donations to the specific needs of each household.

Yesterday, the group delivered new mattresses and pillows to more than 300 households in Toa Payoh, Marine Terrace and Telok Blangah. Some also received electric fans and hot meals.

Cleaner Peh Ah Geok, 85, was glad to have her old mattress replaced. "I have been having back pains because of a bad fall. Now I can sleep more comfortably," she said.

Thirteen finalists from the Mrs QOS Worldwide International Singapore pageant joined in yesterday's effort. Pageant participants are judged not just on their appearance but also on qualities such as compassion and the ability to serve society.