Launch of new initiative - Mobile Groceries @ South West support 7,200 families with close to $300,000 worth of groceries and essential items

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry and Ms Low Yen Ling, Mayor of South West District launched the Mobile Groceries @ South West on 27 April 2024, a new partnership between the South West Community Development Council (CDC) and Hao Ren Hao Shi (HRHS). This initiative will provide support to 7,200 vulnerable families in the South West District with close to $300,000 worth of groceries and essential items over a 2-year period, to help them defray their daily expenses and cope with the cost of living.

To provide greater convenience, the mobile truck carrying the groceries and essential items will be roved around the South West District. Residents will be able to pick and choose grocery and essential household items of up to $40 per household based on their needs. As part of Mobile Groceries @ South West, three distribution activities will be held per month, over 2 years, to support some 7,200 vulnerable families in the South West District.

This new partnership sees a total contribution of close to $300,000 from South West CDC and HRHS, which will go towards the grocery items. The South West CDC will match with a dollar-for-dollar funding.

About 40 student volunteers from Hwa Chong Institution and Lianhua Primary School were involved on the day of the launch, where they helped in the operations of the mobile grocery truck and assisted residents with their collection of groceries and essential items. Across the 2 years, more than 2,000 student and youth volunteers will be involved in Mobile Groceries @ South West. The participation of the youth volunteers will forge intergenerational bonding, as well as foster greater empathy and community spirit amongst the student and youth volunteers.

“The Mobile Groceries @ South West is another new initiative by the South West CDC, in partnership with Hao Ren Hao Shi to provide greater support to our residents. As we continue to forge new partnerships and deepen our engagement in the community, let us carry forward the spirit of solidarity and remain steadfast in our commitment to strengthen our bonds and pave the way for a more resilient community,” said Minister Gan.

"The CDC’s partnership with Hao Ren Hao Shi in the Mobile Groceries @ South West initiative harnesses our respective strengths, resources and expertise to broaden and strengthen our reach and support for needy residents in the South West District. Through this effort, we hope to lighten the cost of living for over 7,000 vulnerable families by providing them with essential daily goods. The mobile truck will make it easier for seniors and those with mobility needs to get groceries. This two-year initiative will give some 2,000 youth volunteers a chance to serve and empathise with the less fortunate, strengthening our community's resilience,” said Mayor Low.

"Hao Ren Hao Shi champions the spirit of volunteerism amongst children, youth, families, and the community. We work with schools to encourage students of all ages to volunteer with Hao Ren Hao Shi in the communities where their schools are located, to distribute essential supplies and provisions to our beneficiaries, regardless of race or religion. These volunteering assignments that the students undertake serve as learning platforms that enable them to be grounded in real issues, gain invaluable teamwork skills, and be authentically connected to their communities. Fulfilling our motto of ‘Let's do good together!’, Hao Ren Hao Shi is pleased to partner with South West CDC on the Mobile Groceries @ South West initiative to increase outreach to more beneficiaries, creating more volunteering opportunities for the children, youth, and the community,” said Anson Ng, Founder Chairman of Hao Ren Hao Shi.

Mobile Groceries @ South West consists of the following items: