As we wind down yet another hectic work year, our thoughts invariably turn to spending quality time with family and friends. Meanwhile, our friends and colleagues in the Labour Movement have been busy doing just that with those around them.
FairPrice Share-A-Textbook x NTUC Back to School
54,000 – This was the number of beneficiaries, aged between seven to 16, who collected textbooks they needed for the new school year in 2019. This happened during a special Back to School fair organised by NTUC FairPrice and NTUC-U Care Fund over 8 and 9 December 2018 at Our Tampines Hub.
Coming from low-income families, the beneficiaries picked up what they needed from over 500,000 donated textbooks.
Of that figure, 24,000 were from part of NTUC FairPrice’s Share-A-Textbook priority scheme. The other 30,000 were NTUC-U Care Fund beneficiaries comprising NTUC union members’ school-going children.
Besides the textbooks, the U Care Back to School vouchers also came in handy for the beneficiaries to purchase school related merchandise at the fair. Each U Care Back to School booklet is worth $125. A total of $2.5 million worth of vouchers were disbursed to union members in 2018.
Young NTUC U Heart Pasar Fiesta
Over 250 volunteers from the unions, grassroot organisations, Young NTUC’s youth networks and ITE students recently came together on 1 December 2018 to add some vim and vigour to the Yio Chu Kang district by setting up pop-up pasars (markets) in five locations.
Organised by Young NTUC in collaboration with NTUC Income OrangeAid, the U Heart Pasar Fiesta community engagement project was modelled on a food distribution drive.
Except that in this case, the 1,700 beneficiaries, comprising under-privileged families and seniors living in the district, were given a novel experience of ‘shopping’ for essentials they need while engaging with volunteers who took on roles as befrienders or ‘stallholders’.
With the support of 20 unions and NTUC Income OrangeAid, the volunteers raised nearly $80,000 worth of funding and food supplies.
Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift
Supported by sponsor NTUC FairPrice and Prudential Singapore, the Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift project (BBSG) was able to fulfill 100 per cent of its food wishes, benefiting over 41,000 beneficiaries.
As part of the charity drive, donors got to do their part by buying and donating food items, adopting a wish and bringing a smile to a beneficiary as well as delivering food hampers to the beneficiaries.
“We are very heartened to see such overwhelming contributions for BBSG 2018,” said Lui Chong Chee, BBSG 2018 chairman. “It is indeed encouraging to see a community rise up to show care, concern and love for those in need, especially during this festive season. Thank you for sharing our message of hope, for galvanising family and friends to step up and donate generously to the beneficiaries. We are truly grateful for all the help in making this project a success.”
Do Your Part Today!
It’s still not too late to do your part and give back to the community and help underprivileged seniors and children.
Project Refresh
Young NTUC is offering volunteers the chance to continue making a difference into the new year with its upcoming Project Refresh event organised with North East CDC on 20 January 2019.
Taking place around Tampines, volunteers will be able to put their practical skills to good use through helping less fortunate residents with spring cleaning, decluttering, painting and even decorating.
For more details and registration, visit their website here.
