Charity organisation Food from the Heart (FFTH) has opened its first Community Shop@Mountbatten where needy households can get their preferred food items for free, instead of standard donation packages.

As the store was launched on 8 February at Block 13 Old Airport Road, following Singapore’s Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak being raised to Orange a day prior. Safety measures such as temperature taking and sanitizing of hands for all guests were implemented to prevent the spreading of the virus.

FFTH’s Chief Executive Officer Sim Bee Hia noted that beneficiaries should not be deprived of food because of the virus.

Community Shop@Mountbatten is aimed to cater to 500 needy households from the Mountbatten and MacPherson neighbourhoods.

Yahoo News Singapore reported that the development of the store will also help to minimize the stockpiling of unwanted food items and reduce food wastage.

Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chua said beneficiaries come from different backgrounds and have their own dietary preferences and restrictions, The Straits Times reported.

However, social service centres are unable to customize food packs for each beneficiary, thus the food packs collected sometimes contain food items that they cannot consume.  

“The community shop resolves some of these problems (as) beneficiaries can collect what they need, when they need them,” Mr Lim said.

The store enables beneficiaries to choose up to 12 items a month and “purchase” them by scanning their beneficiary cards at the counter which is manned by FFTH volunteers.

In addition, the charity staff can collect data on dietary preferences of the beneficiaries through the system, which allows them to restock high-demand food items.

The public can also drop off the food items that they want to donate in a food drop box at the store. A sign was put up outside the store to inform passers-by on the kind of food items that are needed.

Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee added that the needy are granted dignity when they are given with choices.   

“Being able to select what they want is an intangible and valuable gift. Beyond the food item, you give residents a choice. I think that’s very powerful,” Mr Lee said.

Meanwhile, Yahoo News Singapore also reported that OCBC Bank announced a donation of S$300,000 over five years and volunteer support for the community store.

The five-year donation will be allocated to fund the store’s setup, operations, and food supplies.

“Over the years, FFTH’s efforts to uplift food security levels in Singapore has evolved to become more meaningful and relevant. We are glad to be able to support them in their journey,” said Koh Ching Ching, OCBC’s head of group brand and communications.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

【武汉冠状病毒】2月27日增三起病例 莱佛士书院学生确诊

根据卫生部文告,截至本月27日中午12时,本地增加三起武汉冠状病毒(COVID-19)确诊病例,其中一人是莱佛士书院的学生。 这也致使该校须在明日关闭一天进行消毒,曾与学生接触的师生都必须领14天缺席假。 该名学生是第96名病例,年仅12岁,近期都未曾到过中国、韩国大邱和清道郡。他是在本月27日确诊,目前在竹脚妇幼医院隔离治疗。 据教育部文告,该名学生21日出现不适后,就一直拿病假没来学校。不过他曾在20日到过碧山的教育部语言中心(MOE Language Centre),该中心也必须关闭消毒。 上述学生与第94病例有关。第94病例是一名64岁的女公民,同样近期未曾到过中国、韩国大邱和清道郡。她在11日出现症状,在17日、20日和24日曾到诊所就诊,并在24日转介到中央医院,随后于昨日确诊。在入院前她住在位于惹兰裕廊克基一带。 第95病例则是44岁男公民,在今早确诊,相信他与第93病例(38岁男公民)有关。 另一方面, 今日也有四名病患出院(第18、72、78和80例),累计出院人数66人。目前仍有30人接受治疗,大多稳定或好转,惟仍有八名病患情况危急,须在加护病房。

"We have to take social protection seriously" – Economist Yeoh Lam Keong

At the inaugural PSP Speaker Series, moderator Khush Chopra reiterated speaker Yeoh…

SMRT maintenance Vice-President replaced, news source reports inadequate maintenance of water-pumping system behind tunnel flooding

According to Straits Times, local train operator SMRT has announced through an…

Govt should “exercise restraint” in deploying “institutional prerogatives” when wanting to call for early general elections, says Prof Donald Low

Senior Lecturer and Professor of Practice at the Hong Kong University of…