Over 1,100 vulnerable households to receive household packs under Adopt @ South West programme

Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration and Adviser to Boon Lay Grassroots Organisations, and Mr Ang Wei Neng, Vice Chairman of South West Community Development Council, will join over 400 volunteers from ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. to distribute household packs to 1,100 vulnerable households in Boon Lay division on Saturday, 9 September 2023. This is the 13^th year of partnership between the South West CDC and ExxonMobil on the Household Pack Distribution as part of Adopt @ Boon Lay.

2        This year’s Household Pack contains an assortment of essential household items and groceries and food items.

3         “We are appreciative of the unwavering support from partners such as ExxonMobil and the dedication and passion of the volunteers and their families to do good for the community. The Household Packs are timely to help our residents defray their expenses. It is through such collective efforts that we can strengthen community resilience and build a more caring nation,” said Minister Desmond Lee.

4        Geraldine Chin, Chairman and Managing Director, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. said, “It is a privilege for us to be here every year to serve the Boon Lay community. It is especially meaningful to gather over 400 employees and their family and friends, to give back to society. This year, we are reaching out to more residents, increasing the number of households in our outreach by 10 per cent. We have worked closely with South West CDC in the selection of items for the grocery bags to ensure they meet the residents’ needs. We would like to thank our partners at South West CDC for their close cooperation over the past 20 years, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful initiative for many years to come.”

5        Mr Sreeraj Choorakad, Singapore Resid Upgrade Project Safety Lead at ExxonMobil has been with the company for 17 years. As a seasoned volunteer of the annual Household Pack distribution, having participated more than five times since it began in 2011, Sreeraj strongly encourages his fellow teammates to join him. He shared, “Be the change you want to see in the world’ is one of my favourite quotes by Mahatma Gandhi, and something I strongly believe in. I find a sense of fulfilment in being able to help the less fortunate and in the act of giving, I find myself receiving so much more in return. My family members had joined me on various occasions, and I’m glad they had the opportunity to be involved in such a meaningful activity. Through volunteering, it fosters a sense of compassion and empathy for my children and I hope to inspire others to do so.”

6        2023 marks 130 years of ExxonMobil’s presence in Singapore and 20 years of partnership with the South West CDC. ExxonMobil is committed to making a long-term positive impact in the communities where it operates. Apart from Adopt @ Boon Lay, ExxonMobil has actively given back to the community through the South West CDC – ExxonMobil Transport Bursary to help students from vulnerable families defray their transport expenses. The bursary, matched dollar-by-dollar by the CDC worth $140,000 will support over 900 students in the South West District this year.

7        The Adopt @ South West programme aims to uplift and enrich the lives of needy and vulnerable residents living in rental flats by reaching out to them and providing social support. This is part of the WeCare Plus @ South West Initiative, which aims to provide holistic assistance to our residents, strengthen the social safety net for the needy and vulnerable, and create a more caring environment for all residents. The suite of programmes is developed to meet the three core needs of Adopt @ South West - namely Social Support and Wellness, Home Care and Maintenance, as well as Education and Enrichment - to enhance the lives of vulnerable residents in the South West District.

Each pack consists of the following items: