FairPrice charity gives cash, hampers to help needy Muslim families
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Halal-certified products for sale in the FairPrice outlet at Woodlands Civic Centre. The supermarket chain has added about 1,500 of these products from countries such as Brazil and Indonesia to its existing range.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Luqmanul Hakim Ismail
FairPrice's charity has donated $20,000 and 100 hampers to self-help group Yayasan Mendaki to assist low-income families in the Muslim community with school-related fees and buying of groceries.
The supermarket chain will also be providing refreshments at its stores for Muslims to break their fast during Ramadan from today to May 12, and has expanded its range of halal-certified products by almost 1,500 items.
At the FairPrice store at Woodlands Civic Centre yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, who is also Mendaki deputy chairman, said: "I'm thankful FairPrice has been a strong partner of Mendaki. I'm heartened by their donation as it will benefit many of our low-income students and their families, especially during Ramadan when we also want to ensure households get good nutrition."
The hampers donated by FairPrice Foundation include daily necessities like rice, oil and noodles. The $20,000 will be used for bursaries, subsidies for school fees and other academic programme initiatives.
With this year's donation, the foundation has contributed more than $360,000 to Yayasan Mendaki over the past seven years.
FairPrice group chief executive officer Seah Kian Peng said: "As our Muslim customers observe Ramadan, we continue to show our consideration by providing dates and refreshments at our stores to help them break their fast.
"Ramadan is a time of doing good, and we are privileged to provide social support for those in need."
The refreshments can be collected from 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after the time of breaking fast at 60 FairPrice stores, up from 58 stores last year.
The refreshments will be packed into individual bags for self-collection, which will be facilitated by FairPrice staff to ensure safe management measures are adhered to.
FairPrice also added about 1,500 new halal-certified products to the existing range of 5,700 halal products. The new products include groceries from countries such as Brazil, Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia.
There are "halal corners" as well selling hot delicatessen products at 26 FairPrice outlets.
