BBSG introduces interactive elements to main gift box for greater engagement with the public, and opens up channel for overseas Singaporeans to participate in project.
Singapore, 20 November 2014 – Following the revamp of its signature food hampers, The Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift (BBSG) project unveiled today a brand new look to its main gift box located at Braddell Heights Community Hub. Unlike previous years, the gift box this year houses exhibition panels featuring information about The Boys’ Brigade (BB) and BBSG, as well as a “selfie” corner for greater engagement with the public. Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Manpower and Member of Parliament for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency graced the opening ceremony as Guest-of-Honour, and personally picked out food items for the food hampers from FairPrice Xtra in nex Shopping Mall. BBSG also announced an initiative to enable Singaporeans residing overseas to be more deeply involved in the project including making available online donations through NTUC FairPrice Online (www.fairprice.com.sg) where they can contribute to this worthy cause.
A channel for Singaporeans overseas to join in the BBSG journey
Since 2013, BBSG has been exploring collaborations with the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) to involve Singaporeans overseas in the project. Although more Singaporeans were going abroad, many still wanted to lend a helping hand to those in need back home. There were an estimated 212,200 Singaporeans living overseas as of 2014. The discussions came to fruition in August this year, when Camp @ Home, organised by OSU for overseas Singaporean children who return to Singapore for the holidays, adopted BBSG as a beneficiary. The collaboration saw over 30 children aged seven to 12 taking part in the BBSG experience. Not only did they spend a meaningful afternoon packing and delivering food hampers to some 15 beneficiaries, they also gained insights into the lives of the less fortunate in Singapore.
Based on the positive feedback from OSU and the participants, BBSG has explored other ways to provide a channel for overseas Singaporeans keen to contribute to the project. In support of BBSG’s overseas engagement efforts, NTUC FairPrice will be opening up its online portal (www.fairprice.com.sg) for purchases of its online food hampers from outside of Singapore this year. The portal include special donation hampers amounting to $30 or $50 which can be purchased using overseas-issued Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards.
“An increasing number of Singaporeans are residing overseas due to work, studies or other reasons. Nonetheless, many of them remain firmly connected to Singapore and are keen to do their part to support the less fortunate within our community. We hope to harness the power of technology to close the geographical distance between them and us, so that they can be involved in the project too. With this new channel, overseas Singaporeans will be able to experience the BBSG journey more deeply, as they can join hands with fellow Singaporeans back home to fulfill general wishes, and track the progress of the project on BB’s online portal,” added Mr Lui.
Generous support of corporates
This year, long-time sponsors NTUC FairPrice and Prudential Singapore have returned with their generous support. Apart from being an official online and collection partner, NTUC FairPrice Foundation will be contributing $50,000 to BBSG. Prudential Singapore will also be lending physical strength to the project on top of donating $120,000. They will be rallying their staff to adopt wishes, as well as pack and deliver food hampers to beneficiaries. Other cash donors and sponsors include Far East Organisation, Credit Suisse, Lee Foundation, and Tan Chin Tuan Foundation.
The project will also see the participation of Nestlé Singapore for the first time. In this partnership, certain Nestlé products purchased by individuals as food donations will be matched one for one by Nestlé, up to a cap of $100,000. These items include Milo Powder 900g, Milo 3in1 18s, NESTLE OMEGA PLUS 3:6 High Calcium Milk 700g, NESTUM 3in1 Plain Cereal Drink 20s, NESTUM All Family Original 450g, MAGGI 2MIN Curry / Chicken Noodle 5s and NESCAFE 3in1 ORIGINAL 35s.
BBSG 2014 aims to fulfil the wishes of 35,845 beneficiaries. It will also be reaching out to its beneficiaries with revamped food hampers that will better cater to their needs. The changes were made with inputs from social workers who work directly with the beneficiaries (Refer to factsheet for more details on changes made to the hampers).
From now till 17 December, donors who wish to fulfil general wishes can drop off their food donations at 13 collection points located at various NTUC FairPrice outlets. Those who wish to fulfil specific wishes can adopt a specific wish from any of the six Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift Specific Wish Trees in Singapore. Wish contributions can also be made through any AXS station located island-wide (Refer to factsheet for list of BBSG 2014 gift boxes and wish tree locations).
BBSG also invites Singaporeans to experience a deeper involvement by delivering gifts to the beneficiaries at the public car delivery flag-offs on 6 and 13 December, at Nanyang Polytechnic. Volunteers who wish to take part must register with the BBSG in advance via www.bbshare.sg .
For more information, the public can contact the BBSG hotline at 1800-227-4273 (1800-BBSHARE) or visit its official website at www.bbshare.sg.
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