SINGAPORE - More than 300,000 meals will be provided to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups which have been laid low by the pandemic.

Temasek Foundation said on Thursday (April 30) that it has earmarked around $780,000 for the initiative, which it is undertaking with community partners and specialised schools.

The aim is to provide meals to families and individuals over the next six months under three separate programmes that should reach around 2,750 people in all.

Mr Richard Magnus, the chairman of Temasek Foundation Cares, which runs community initiatives under Temasek Foundation, said: "The vulnerable and disadvantaged segments of our community are hard hit by Covid-19, especially for their meals. This concerted effort in food aid supports their needs."

The foundation - the philanthropic arm of Singapore investment company Temasek - supports community programmes and provides aid to Singapore and other countries in the region.

Its first food support programme aims to deliver 270,000 free meals to up to 1,500 people, including low-income individuals, the elderly living alone in rental flats, those who are not mobile, and those with pre-existing conditions such as arthritis and dementia.

The programme, undertaken alongside charities Free Food For All and Willing Hearts, started on April 20 and will run for six months.

Meals are also being given to students at specialised schools in a second programme that started on April 13 and will run for two months.

Assumption Pathway, Crest Secondary, Northlight, Spectra Secondary and Metta schools are remaining open during the home-based learning period for students who do not have adequate family support and require meals.

Temasek Foundation has been giving out about 30,000 meal vouchers, rations or pre-packed meals to help around 750 students.

A third initiative, which is part of a pilot programme by The Food Bank Singapore, involves buying and delivering 7,000 hawker meals to vulnerable people who are not receiving food aid from other agencies.

The 14-day trial, supported by Temasek Foundation, starts next Monday and will involve about 30 hawkers supplying about 500 people with dinner.

Hawkers whose businesses have been adversely affected will get a welcome boost while unemployed or low-income workers will be paid a small fee to deliver the meals.