$800,000 worth of Festive Cheers packs for 8,000 vulnerable households; Youth volunteers make a difference

Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration and Adviser to Boon Lay Grassroots Organisations and Ms Low Yen Ling, Mayor of South West District kicked off the three-month long annual Festive Cheers @ South West on 2 December 2023.  The initiative by the South West Community Development Council (CDC), happening between December 2023 and February 2024, is made possible with corporate and community partners and volunteers in bringing festive joy to 8,000 vulnerable households in the South West District.

2        More than 50 volunteers from Procter & Gamble (P&G) Singapore presented the South West Festive Cheers Packs and customised gifts to 60 families on 2 December 2023.  The South West Festive Cheers Packs worth a total of $800,000 comprising food and household items, are sponsored by P&G Singapore and Koh Kock Leong Enterprise Pte Ltd.  Each family received about $100 worth of household and food items to help them defray their daily expenses. As part of Festive Grant-A-Wish, P&G Singapore will also be gifting 150 children from low-income households a gift worth up to $40. The gifts are contributed by staff volunteers based on the wishes and needs of the children.

3        This year’s Festive Cheers @ South West is made extra special with the involvement of over 5,000 students from the Institutes of Higher Learning and schools in the South West District. Each festive cheers pack will include a greeting card, designed by volunteers from Project Wellness, a ground-up initiative, and hand-written by students from more than 9 primary schools to cheer on the families. More than 60 staff, alumni and student volunteers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and National Institute of Education (NIE) will also be involved in packing and distributing the festive packs to beneficiaries in the South West District.

4        “I’m happy to see corporate partners, community stakeholders and volunteers come together to share some festive cheer with those who are more vulnerable and in need. This year’s Festive Cheers programme shows strong kampung spirit and I hope it encourages more partners to step forward to do their part in building our communities," said Minister Desmond Lee.

5        “We are delighted to see our corporate and community partners coming back year after year to support the annual Festive Cheers initiative. Their longstanding dedication to uplift and enrich the lives of our residents is commendable. This year, we have students from 9 primary schools cheering on the families with personalised cards, and youth and staff of NTU and NIE chiming in their efforts by packing and distributing the South West Festive Cheers packs. This collective effort shows how we care as a one, for our community.  Together, we’re making South West District more cohesive and resilient,” said Mayor Low.

6        Mr Aalok Agrawal, Senior Vice President, Consumer Health Care, P&G Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, said, “Our goal at P&G is to improve the health and well-being of the communities we touch. We are proud to be part of this meaningful Festive Cheers Programme organised by South West CDC to provide daily necessities to vulnerable families through our brands. We are committed to making a positive impact with our brands and inspiring others to help.”

7        The Festive Grant-A-Wish is part of P&G’s annual corporate social responsibility effort and kick-starts the South West CDC’s Festive Cheers @ South West programme. Festive Cheers @ South West rallies the support of corporate and community partners to organise a series of festive activities such as Christmas and Chinese New Year engagement, distribution of South West Festive Cheers Packs and festive gifts to the beneficiaries of Adopt @ South West. This year, Festive Cheers @ South West will benefit 8,000 vulnerable households from 25 Adopt @ South West precincts.

8        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 South West Festive Cheers Packs consists of the following items:

Each P&G Household Packs consists of the following items: