Jamiyah Singapore launches charity food drive to deliver $300,000 worth of food to 1,000 families

SINGAPORE – Living by himself and unable to work because of illnesses, Mr Haji Uthuman finds joy in being able to cook for himself – and a 1kg bag of ingredients he receives from Jamiyah Singapore each month helps him do just that.

Speaking in Malay, the 69-year-old said: “I am grateful. Whatever they give me is enough for me.”

Mr Uthuman, who lives in a rental flat in Bendemeer, suffers from high cholesterol and heart problems, though he does occasional odd jobs when he can. He also makes a point of sharing any extra groceries with his needy neighbours.

He has been receiving food support from Jamiyah Singapore for about three years, and is one of more than 1,000 families who rely on the organisation’s monthly assistance.

To sustain this support, Jamiyah Singapore launched its Mega Food Drive 2025 on Nov 23, aiming to raise $300,000 worth of essential food items to help over 1,000 needy low-income families, persons with disabilities, and elderly, aged-sick, and unemployed individuals.

Walk-in and drive-through food contributions can be made at eight Jamiyah locations till Dec 31, while cash donations can also be made monetary online.

Delivering donated items in style at the launch event – held at Jamiyah FoodBank in Tannery Lane – was a group of 21 bikers and their spouses, who brought food items like rice, Milo and biscuits.

The group, called BMW Riding Kakis Bikers group, comprises 431 members across Singapore.

Group founder Mr Mohamed Tajudin, 61, said their passion goes beyond riding. “We are just a motorcycle group, but then does not mean that our passion is only towards riding – we also want to give back to the community.”

“I know my members. They are always willing to do things for charity, so this was not a problem for us,” he said.

“There are a lot of good-hearted people in our group. Their hearts are always willing to donate as much as they can,” he added. “Sometimes, I have to stop them from donating too much, and tell them that what they have donated is enough.”

Donating food at Jamiyah is just one of the many ways the bikers contribute to the needy, said Mr Tajudin.

At other volunteer events or donation drives that the biker group visits, many beneficiaries – both young and old – have been fascinated by the large, sleek BMW sport and touring motorcycles. Some even ask to sit on the bikes or for a ride, Mr Tajudin said.

“When we see the face of our beneficiaries when they receive what we give them, it makes our heart melt,” he added.

Mr Siraj Salman, a vice-president at Jamiyah, said: “Food drives like the Mega Food Drive are essential because food insecurity is an ongoing reality for many vulnerable families in our community.”

“When the community bands together, we create a network of care that ensures no family faces hunger alone,” he added, adding that the organisation plans to expand its reach to other needy communities.

This is Jamiyah’s first community food collection drive since 2021, although it has conducted smaller-scale drives at schools, organisations and community events.

The non-governmental organisation has been providing food assistance since the 1970s, supporting over 25,000 beneficiaries to date.

Mr Salman said it was “truly moving” how the Mega Food Drive is sustained by individuals, schools, corporations, community groups and grassroot partners in the community banding together.

Aside from the Jamiyah FoodBank, where beneficiaries receive their groceries pre-packed each month, the organisation also opened Jampacked centres in 2021 – a network of mini foodbanks with three centres in Bukit Batok, Radin Mas, and West Coast.

These centres operate as community minimarts where eligible families with per capita income below $1,000 receive $50 in monthly credits to shop for essentials. This promotes dignity and choice rather than traditional charity, said Mr Salman.

The Mega Food Drive is collecting essential halal, non-perishable items such as cooking oil, instant noodles, biscuits, canned food and beverages.

Monetary donations can be made online, and food donations via walk-in or drive-through until Dec 31 at: