Over half a million donated books available for collection, the highest amount received in the project’s 36-year history.
Over 24,000 beneficiaries from the FairPrice Share-A-Textbook priority scheme and almost 30,000 NTUC U-Care Fund beneficiaries invited to collect free donated textbooks and purchase school essentials at discounted rates of more than 50 percent at joint event held at Our Tampines Hub.
SINGAPORE, 8 December 2018 – NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice) and NTUC U-Care today launched the second edition of the joint collaboration of the FairPrice Share-A-Textbook and NTUC Back to School initiatives, which aims to help defray the cost of school expenses for low-income families. Following the success of last year’s inaugural edition, the fair will take place this year from 10.00am to 8.00pm on 9 December 2018 at Our Tampines Hub.
This year, over 24,000 beneficiaries from the FairPrice Share-A-Textbook priority scheme, along with almost 30,000 NTUC U-Care Fund beneficiaries comprising NTUC union members and their school-going children, have been invited to the fair to obtain textbooks and school essentials a day before it is open to the general public.
Mr Seah Kian Peng, CEO, NTUC FairPrice, said, “We are appreciative of the community’s continued support towards the FairPrice Share-A-Textbook project this year which has enabled us to attain our target of collecting half a million textbooks. This is the highest number we have collected in the 36-year history of this community initiative. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the generosity of the donors and numerous students, as well as corporate and public volunteers who have sacrificed their time and effort. To reach out to more beneficiaries, we also continue to collaborate with the NTUC U-Care’s Back to School initiative to leverage on our respective efforts in helping the low-income families defray the cost of school expenses, while creating a wider impact on the community.”
Mr Zainal Sapari, Assistant Secretary-General and Director, Care and Share Department, NTUC, said, “We are happy to be partnering FairPrice Share-A-Textbook again to bring greater value and convenience to our union members. The NTUC Back to School Fair is a key platform for our members to not just purchase the necessary items for their children’s schooling needs, but to also stretch their dollar in doing so with the exclusive discounts offered.”
Distribution of Textbooks
Today, over 24,000 beneficiaries aged seven to 16 years old, from the FairPrice Share-A-Textbook priority scheme have been invited to select from over 500,000 textbooks generously donated by the public via donation points at more than 170 stores island-wide, the highest number of stores involved in the donation drive to-date.
Close to 1,100 volunteers, from community partners and schools, along with FairPrice staff and members of the general public, were involved in the collecting, sorting and organising of textbooks for the FairPrice Share-A-Textbook Project.
Fair for Schooling Essentials
Beyond textbooks, almost 30,000 NTUC U-Care Fund beneficiaries comprising NTUC union members and their school-going children have been invited to attend the 14th Back to School fair held within the same premises. The fair is organised to complement the U Care Back to School Voucher programme, where a total of close to $2.5 million has been disbursed to beneficiaries in 2018. Each successful applicant is given a booklet of U-Care Back to School Vouchers worth $125 for each eligible school-going child.
Beneficiaries of the programme will be able to maximise use of their Back to School vouchers at the fair, which offers exclusive deals and special promotions on school-related merchandise, including school bags and shoes, assessment books and stationery, offered by participating merchants.
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