The long awaited March Holidays are finally here! On top of the plentiful rest we deserve, volunteering might be on the long list of things you wish to do during this one week break. However, giving back to the community is more than just tutoring young children and folding origami with the elderly. There are many local organisations, serving different causes, that require just as much support from the public. Thus, we have compiled a short list of lesser-known local charities and non-profit organisations that help more unique and specific causes below. Do consider volunteering your time or donating to these organisations if you can!
Food Rescue Sengkang
The mission of the founders at Food Rescue Sengkang (FRSK) is to ‘Feed the people, not the bins’. To tackle food wastage, volunteers rescue 20 to 40 pallets of perishable and non-perishable items weekly, weighing an average of 16 to 35 tonnes. These foods, including bread and vegetables, can feed an estimated 600 to 900 lower- to middle-income families who live from hand to mouth, providing them with food security.
As a self-funded organisation, FRSK hopes to raise funds to cover their operational and logistics costs to continue giving food to the needy and reducing food wastage. Do support FRSK by providing your time or money – check out their Facebook page too if you are interested in helping out at food rescue events!
FRSK’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/273475443657924
Migrant Workers' Assistance Fund
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the uncomfortable reality of the poor living conditions of migrant workers in Singapore has been revealed. The Migrant Workers’ Assistance Fund (MWAF) is the humanitarian charity of the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC). MWC provides social and financial assistance to migrant workers regarding employment disputes, further education and awareness of employment rights, just to name a few.
To support MWC in providing help to migrant workers, an essential but vulnerable part of our society, you can donate to the MWAF. Every $10 donated helps provide three meals to one worker! Alternatively, you can choose to give a monthly donation to the charity.
Donate here: https://www.giving.sg/web/mwaf
2. Canossaville Children's Home
Canossaville Children’s Home offers Residential Care to girls aged between 6 and 12 years who come from family situations which may put them at risk. Furthermore, their Special Student Care offers before- and after-school care for all primary schoolers, including those with a hearing impairment and learning disabilities such as dyslexia.
Those above 18 can not only volunteer their services to these young children, but can also apply for internship opportunities on their website!
Canossaville’s Website: https://canossaville.org.sg/
3. Mummy Yummy
An organisation founded by 4 sworn sisters in 2013 when they started door-to-door food distribution to rental flats in Singapore. On top of this, which they are still sustaining today, Mummy Yummy also puts up Facebook posts monthly to gather donations for their vegetarian hawker stores, giving free food and discounts to the underprivileged. They present a transparent breakdown of the costs of running each hawker stall, from rent and utilities to ingredients and transportation.
Visit their Facebook page to learn more about their contributions to society and how to donate to Mummy Yummy!
Mummy Yummy’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Vegetarian-Vegan-Restaurant/Mummy-Yummy-Singapore-679826295399303/
ItsRainingRaincoats
With our migrant workers working hard rain or shine, ItsRainingRaincoats is an initiative acting as a raincoat protecting migrant workers from metaphorical thunderstorms in life. From posting donation requests to the public for items like laptops, mattresses, shoes and bags, to organising English classes and eye checkups, ItsRainingRaincoats aims to provide assistance to migrant workers in many different aspects of their lives.
Check out their Facebook page regularly for updates about how you can make a difference by donating necessities, volunteering your time, better integrating migrant workers into our community and many more!
ItsRainingRaincoats’ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/itsrainingraincoats
Happy People Helping People
The sight of elderly collecting cardboards and cans, or doing odd jobs to make ends meet is not an uncommon sight in Singapore. Happy People Helping People thus seeks to extend financial and social assistance to this vulnerable group in society. Their Happy Sunday event, held at various locations on the first Sunday of every month, helps to donate cooked meals and vouchers to elderlies.
Happy Sunday is just the tip of the iceberg of the various initiatives Happy People Helping People have come up with! Find out more about volunteering opportunities and how to donate items and money to support these elderlies on their Facebook page.
Happy People Helping People’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/HappyPeopleHelpingPeople/
This list is definitely not exhaustive so do constantly keep a lookout for organisations and charities that you are passionate about serving.
Remember, a little goes a long way – being able to help others is a privilege, so we highly encourage you to contribute to society in the little ways you can!
Written by: Caroline Ong (21A10), Wee Yu Yan (21S66)
Edited by: Rowena Tan (21A12)
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