NTUC First Campus (NFC) has unveiled plans to launch a $350,000 food programme, catered to assist 2,500 low-income families in providing healthy meals and nutrition workshops.
The programme will benefit families with monthly household incomes of $4,500 or less, or monthly per capita income of $1,125, as well as having a child who attends NTUC First Campus’ My First Skool (MFS).
The families will receive food packs, Kopitiam cards, and health and nutrition workshops every quarter - all of which are funded by donors of NFC’s Bright Horizons Fund. Donors include investment holding company Pavilion Capitol, Seviora Holdings CEO and Executive Director Jimmy Phoon, as well as Fairprice Foundation, a charity set up by NTUC Fairprice.
The food packs contain fresh fruits and vegetables, Fairprice Housebrand food products with the “Healthier Choice” label. Items such as wholewheat spaghetti, cod liver oil and vitamin c pastilles for children are products given to every household.
In addition, the Kopitiam cards will provide the households access to cooked food and dining out when necessary.
The programme will be implemented progressively starting from the second quarter of 2021.
NTUC Enterprise Group CEO Seah Kian Peng said: "NFC has joined hands with FairPrice Group to support low-income families and their children under a new Food and Nutrition Programme to make daily necessities accessible to them."
The nutrition workshops will equip households with further information on child-related health topics such as healthy food and preventing myopia.
NFC CEO Chan Su Yee said: “Nutrition is essential to development and learning in young children. This initiative is part of our efforts to give a leg-up to lower-income families who often face greater challenges in ensuring good nutrition."
In addition, an informative placemat on tips for healthy eating will be provided to families. NFC also hopes to share a family activity kit equipped with resources such as card games for family bonding to reinforce nutritional habits.
Families were also excited to hear of such a food programme. Lisa (not her real name), a mother of a child attending MFS will benefit from the upcoming programme.
She said: “Besides lessening my financial burden, my daughter will be able to enjoy more nutritious food so that she can grow and learn better. The food and nutrition workshop will also help to widen my knowledge about the nutritional value of food and healthy living.”
