• People’s Association grassroots leaders will distribute foodstuff and basic medical supplies to vulnerable households

On Thursday, 4 July 2013, the first batch of supplies were delivered by NTUC FairPrice and NTUC Unity to the People’s Association (PA) Headquarters, to be repacked and distributed as WeCare PAcks for elderly residents living alone. These WeCare PAcks contain food and medical supplies and will be distributed by grassroots leaders starting, Sunday, 7 July 2013. The PAcks are a joint initiative of the PA and NTUC FairPrice Foundation.

As part of PA’s community emergency outreach efforts, grassroots leaders had taken note of vulnerable households which may face difficulties should situations such as prolonged and severe haze that keeps residents indoors arise. To help such residents to cope, the grassroots movement is readying and distributing WeCare PAcks to the most vulnerable in the community.

On hand to help pack the first batch of WeCare PAcks at the PA Headquarters, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Association Minister Lim Swee Say said, “From time to time, we may be hit by unforeseen developments that could disrupt the life of our people, especially the more vulnerable in our community. As a grassroots movement, our grassroots volunteers are here to look out for them and take care of them, be it in combating dengue, haze, SARS or other crisis. The introduction of the WeCare Pack by the grassroots movement with partners such as the NTUC Cooperatives is another step forward to strengthen care and support in the community for residents who may need the extra help in any crisis situation.”

Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of Southwest District said, “The Community Development Councils (CDCs) are glad to be part of this meaningful initiative. We will work with the grassroots organisations and agencies like Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and Senior Activity Centres (SACs), to help identify additional vulnerable residents and work with grassroots leaders on follow-up and assistance. This whole-of-community approach, involving the CDCs, grassroots organisations, and other community and corporate partners, will help ensure that the health and well-being of our more vulnerable residents are being looked after.”

Mr Seah Kian Peng, Chief Executive Officer of FairPrice said, “As a home grown retailer and a NTUC cooperative, our customers have grown to trust FairPrice and know that beyond our social mission of moderating the cost of living, we will always play our part whenever a crisis strikes Singapore. As such, we are glad to be able to contribute to this meaningful initiative to ensure that elderly residents living by themselves in our community are provided with essential food and medical supplies in a crisis situation.”

Chief Executive Director of the PA, Mr Ang Hak Seng, BBM, said, “The WeCare PAcks will contain basic food and medical supplies, and will come in very handy for our emergency response capabilities. By distributing it straight to the homes of the elderly living alone, we can equip individual households with items that will help them be prepared in situations where they may be suddenly home-bound. We will also be preparing a reserve stock for replenishment when it is required.”

The Packs contain food items such as instant noodles, biscuits, 3-in-1 beverages and canned food, as well as basic medical supplies.