Ground-up initiatives like charity’s free community minimart embody ‘we first’ spirit: PM Wong
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Prime Minister Lawrence Wong taking pictures with Hao Ren Hao Shi student volunteers at the charity's fund-raising dinner held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel on Sept 29.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Follow topic:
- Hao Ren Hao Shi held its first charity dinner to fund-raise for its initiatives to give out provisions and food to the less fortunate.
- PM Lawrence Wong praised founder Anson Ng's "we first" spirit, noting the charity's innovative free minimarts that serve over 800 families monthly.
- Hao Ren Hao Shi has engaged over 7,000 volunteers to date, assisting over 22,000 individuals and families in 2024 with essential provisions.
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SINGAPORE – Mr Lam Chee Yong was volunteering at a temple when he had the opportunity in 2019 to help local charity Hao Ren Hao Shi (Good People, Good Deeds) distribute groceries to families in need in Redhill Close.
Wanting to encourage his children to volunteer, Mr Lam roped in his family.
Six years on, his two daughters are more enthusiastic than him in volunteering with the charity every Sunday.
Ms Ashley Lam, 23, and Ms Amber Lam, 21, particularly enjoy talking to residents who visit the charity’s free community minimarts for families in need.
The Lams were recognised with an Outstanding Family Award at Hao Ren Hao Shi’s first fund-raising dinner on Sept 29, which raised more than $1.8 million, exceeding its target of $1.5 million.
More than 500 guests, including community and corporate partners, donors and student volunteers, attended the dinner, held at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong attended the event, along with Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Cai Yinzhou.
The charity’s founder, Mr Anson Ng, a second-hand car dealer, was named
He and a few like-minded individuals started Hao Ren Hao Shi in 2018 to distribute groceries to families in need in Redhill Close.
More than 7,000 volunteers have pitched in to date, helping the charity to serve more than 22,000 individuals and families in 2024 alone.
Today, Hao Ren Hao Shi serves more than 30,000 beneficiaries across Singapore, delivering essential provisions and providing care to families in need.
PM Wong said that Mr Ng, whom he first met at the 2021 Silent Heroes Awards presentation, struck him as someone who devotes himself to serving others “without fanfare”.
PM Wong said Hao Ren Hao Shi innovates to meet real needs, working with the community development councils to deliver groceries to families every week, and opening community minimarts to allow eligible families to shop for food and necessities for free.
The charity’s Mobile Groceries initiative helps about 2,000 families a month, while its two volunteer-run minimarts in Queenstown and Fernvale in Sengkang serve more than 800 families each month.
PM Wong said he visited Happy Mart @ Fernvale in April, which “far exceeded” his expectations.
Outstanding family service award recipient Lam Chee Yong with his wife, Ms Agnes Cheng, their daughters Amber (red top) and Ashley, and Ashley’s boyfriend Joel Tan at Hao Ren Hao Shi’s dinner event at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel on Sept 29.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
He noted how the minimart was not just a place for free groceries, but also a community hub where volunteers bond with residents.
Recalling his conversation with Mr Ng, PM Wong said: “I asked him, ‘How are you funding all of this?’... Then he tells me he has to do fund raising, and the challenges he faced doing fund raising. So, I said, ‘I will help you.’
“And so he invited me for this charity dinner, and I’m here fulfilling my promise to him and lending my support to this effort.”
PM Wong added: “I think these sorts of ground-up actions truly embody the ‘we first’ spirit that I spoke about at my National Day Rally recently.
“Putting ‘we’ first doesn’t mean that we suppress the ‘me’ or the individual. Obviously, we have to take care of ourselves, but we must recognise that the ‘me’ can only thrive when the ‘we’ is strong, and that means we have to look out for one another, especially the vulnerable amongst us, ensure that every Singaporean progresses together as one people.”
PM Wong first spoke about the “we first” spirit
He said a “we first” society is one that strives for the collective good, not just self-interest, and that values solidarity even as people recognise their individual differences.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (right) and Hao Ren Hao Shi founder and chairman Anson Ng at the charity’s dinner held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel on Sept 29.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
PM Wong said the Government will continue to do more to uplift Singaporeans, but everyone has a part to play in supporting communities.
“And that’s how we build a virtuous cycle where those who succeed help others succeed too, and then graciousness, kindness and care can spread throughout our society,” he said.
He added that there is much division and discord around the world today, with people everywhere “turning against one another”.
“Protests erupt, sometimes turning violent. Institutions lose their legitimacy, and then trust among communities starts to erode very quickly,” he said.
“Even if the world becomes more disorderly and chaotic, we want Singapore to remain calm, peaceful and stable,” he said, adding that Singapore’s stability so far was not “by chance”.
PM Wong said Singapore is subject to the same pressures, but has been able to avoid many of the problems elsewhere because of the solidarity and trust among Singaporeans.
Speaking at the dinner, Mr Ng thanked the charity’s partners, including schools, companies, the Government and other charities.
“This is not all about Hao Ren Hao Shi. I think it’s about coming together as a community to serve and make Singapore a better place.”
