The Community Chest raised more than $225,000 on Saturday through corporate donations and its first flag day in two decades, a spokesman said.

Volunteers had solicited donations at six places island-wide, and the Sharity Elephant, the group's mascot, also made an appearance in a bright new orange costume.

The money will be used to fund 228 social service programmes offered by 83 charities. These will help more than 300,000 people including children with special needs, at-risk youth, people with disabilities and needy families.

"The donations will help our young beneficiaries to have access to education, needy families to become stronger, persons with disabilities to lead independent lives and seniors to age with dignity," said Community Chest general manager Ng Ling Ling.

FairPrice Foundation, a long-standing partner of the Community Chest, also announced a new FairPrice Foundation-ComChest Enriching Lives Fund which will receive $2.4 million over three years.

This year, $800,000 from the fund will go to six family service centres and the National Council of Social Service Assistance Fund. The Community Chest is the fund-raising farm of the National Council of Social Service.

Mr Tan Kian Chew, FairPrice's chief executive, said the fund is to provide special training assistance to help people with special needs from low-income families to acquire skills. "This will equip the less privileged with the necessary skills to become successful citizens in society."