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Hello, Project Belanja!

Published: 30 January 2019, Wednesday

Hello, Project Belanja!

What do you do when you’re hungry? If your answer is to whip up a quick meal in the kitchen, you might be surprised at how something so simple can be a huge challenge for other fellow Singaporeans. Various factors can contribute to individuals being unable to cook their own food. This can lead to poor health and nutrition as well as social isolation and poor mental health - and the COVID-19 pandemic has also complicated matters further.

In response, Food from the Heart launched Project Belanja! to help provide meals for needy beneficiaries in Singapore. Read on to find out about Project Belanja! and how you can contribute.

 

What is Project Belanja! about?

Project Belanja! is a Food from the Heart programme that enables needy beneficiaries to enjoy hot meals from neighbourhood hawkers. This is an alternative to Food from the Heart’s other main programmes such as the Community Food Pack and serves those who are unable to cook for various reasons.

The project was launched in January 2019. It was kickstarted by the #OCBCCares programme, which pledged close to $50,000, and in 2020 was expanded in partnership with GovTech, the South East Community Development Council, and local grassroots organisations and hawkers. In 2020 alone, 29,441 meals were redeemed by 312 beneficiaries across 28 hawker partners.

 

How does Project Belanja! work?

 

Our beneficiaries are each given a Food from the Heart beneficiary card with a QR code to scan at participating hawker stalls and redeem their free meal. The QR code redeems one free hot meal a day for up to 15 meals per month per person - a significant number of meals on top of the food packs they receive! As at November 2021, meals can be redeemed from participating stalls in Mountbatten, Tampines, Kolam Ayer, and Toa Payoh 

 

Being assured a hot meal a day has enabled beneficiary Mdm Serene Tan to continue her job as a food delivery agent, and gives beneficiaries a sense of community and element of choice that is crucial to their mental wellbeing. With Food from the Heart spearheading the initiative, grassroots organisations have more time and resources to engage directly with beneficiaries, and participating hawkers can reduce food wastage.

 

How to get involved with Project Belanja!

Corporates who are interested to support Project Belanja! are invited to reach out to us to find out more.

 

How else can I contribute to Food from the Heart?

Food from the Heart organizes several food donation initiatives and volunteer work opportunities in Singapore. Individuals, schools, and organisations are all able to make a difference in the lives on Food from the Heart beneficiaries by volunteering in Singapore. Find out how you can help here or reach out to us for more information.

 

Last updated 8 November 2021.

 

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