SINGAPORE - Residents of new rental flats in Woodlands Avenue 6 took their pick of some 100 pieces of free furniture on Saturday (June 9), as part of a donation drive by the neighbourhood's grassroots volunteers.
Freelance delivery courier, Mr Feddlyshah Ibrahim, 34, was among the first to get a new piece of furniture. He selected a sofa to furnish his one-room rental flat, which he shares with his wife. The living hall in his flat has been bare since he moved in three months ago, and they have been sleeping on mats on the floor.
He said: "The grassroots committee has been helping me for several things, as I have been looking to find another job in the hotel line. This morning they came to knock on my door to tell me about the drive and I was surprised to be the second to choose."
More than 50 residents were present at the Residents' Committee office in the void deck of one of the blocks to choose furniture when The Straits Times visited on Saturday morning. Mattresses, bed frames, cabinets, cooking appliances, refrigerators, washing machines and microwaves were among the items available.
This is the fourth drive of its kind by the Admiralty Citizens Consultative Committee.
The idea for such a drive first arose when grassroots volunteers, Dr Teo Peili, 37, and her husband, Mr Tan Khai Seng, 41, a health and safety officer, were moving into their new executive condominium in the neighbourhood in 2016.
Dr Teo, a scientist, said:"We had furniture from our old flat to give away, and thought many of our new neighbours would have the same as they were moving in too."
The couple then went around asking their neighbours at the Twin Fountains Executive Condominium, and collected furniture to distribute to residents of rental flats at Champions Court, Admiralty.
The furniture was also donated by people from other estates in a collection drive in May. Volunteers provided a pick up service for donors and were also at the distribution on Saturday, to help move the furniture from the void deck to the residents' flats.
Sembawang GRC MP Vikram Nair said it was "heartening to see these generous residents answering our call for the donation drive".
"Some even went the extra mile to purchase brand new household products to contribute," he said.
Mr Tan said the drive, which was planned for residents to furnish their flats before Hari Raya, was also "a good way to get to know our new neighbours".
Housewife Daeng Nur Anissa Md Shah, 25, a mother of four, selected a queen-size mattress to replace her worn one of more than 10 years old.
"I feel fortunate to get a chance to get an item that I can't afford myself," she said.
