Singapore, July 22, 2007 – Needy families across Singapore will be given a million-dollar relief package to cope with the impact of the GST increase. Singapore’s leading retailer NTUC FairPrice today kicked off its Million Dollar Food Voucher scheme by presenting food vouchers to the Kebun Baru community.
The NTUC FairPrice Million Dollar Food Voucher scheme was first announced in February this year, in conjunction with the labour co-operative’s pledge to absorb the two per cent GST increase for more than 400 top selling essentials for six months.
To mark the kick-off of the voucher distribution, NTUC FairPrice Chairman Mr Ng Ser Miang presented a $1 million NTUC FairPrice voucher to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. PM Lee is the Guest-of-honour at the Project Cool Running cum Kebun Baru Family Day at Bishan Park 1. NTUC FairPrice is the event’s main sponsor.
“We hope the million dollars worth of vouchers will provide further financial relief to the needy families in Singapore. The move is aligned with our current absorption of GST increase and our social role to moderate the cost of living for Singaporeans,” said Mr Ng.
NTUC FairPrice has decided to distribute the vouchers to the poor and needy mainly through the advisers of the grassroots organisations (GROs). It will also be setting aside some vouchers for selected welfare organisations. By end of the week, all the GROs will have received a letter from NTUC FairPrice to inform them of the details of the voucher distribution.
At the event, PM Lee, Mr Ng and Mr Inderjit Singh, Adviser to Kebun Baru GRO distributed goody bags with essential household items to 60 public assistance recipients, with the help of members from NTUC FairPrice’s staff volunteer organisation, Club V. Mr Inderjit Singh also received $8,000 worth of the NTUC FairPrice vouchers for distribution to the needy in the Kebun Baru community.
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About the Kebun Baru Project Cool Running cum Family Day 2007
Kebun Baru Community Club and Mayflower Secondary School jointly organised a fund raising project called ‘Project Cool Running cum Family Day 07’ on July 22, 2007 at Bishan Park 1. Proceeds from the event will go towards the upgrading of Mayflower Secondary school hall and Kebun Baru Community Club.
