Over 500 beneficiaries get free fresh produce items at pop-up market in Ang Mo Kio
More than 500 beneficiaries were able to receive a range of fresh produce such as fresh seabass, prawns and poultry for free during an inaugural pop-up market event on Wednesday morning (20 March).
The one-day “farmers market-style set-up”, held at the carpark outside Teck Ghee Community Club in Ang Mo Kio, was organised by non-profit charity organisation Food from the Heart (FFTH).
“The Pop-Up Fresh Produce Market is a new initiative from FFTH, as we focus on changing perceptions around the food programmes for the needy, and better empowering our beneficiaries with choices when receiving food aid,” said its CEO Sim Bee Hia in a press release on Wednesday.
“We look forward to the possibility of extending this initiative to more dates throughout the year, and at different locations, so that more can benefit,” she added.
The initiative – to be held again in May at another location – will complement the FFTH’s current Community Food Pack and School Goodie Bag programmes, where beneficiaries receive monthly and weekly provisions of non-perishable food items such as canned products and eggs, said the organisation.
Among the available fresh groceries available on Wednesday included 10 types of vegetables such as cabbage and sweet potatoes, five types of fruits, as well as poultry, seafood such as seabass and prawns, and other items such as silken tofu and laksa noodles.
Beneficiaries, who arrived in five batches of hundred each throughout the day, were allowed to redeem 12 different items with a retail value worth up to $50.
“Fresh seafood and poultry are the pricier grocery items that our beneficiaries don’t often buy for themselves. So when they learned that they will be able to select and bring home fresh ingredients that include meat items, they were really happy to be part of it,” said Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre’s social work assistant Ernie Lydia Abu Yamin, Social Work Assistant.
The event was funded by regular donors to the FFTH. More than 100 volunteers helped facilitate the event, including 20 women from the American Women’s Association as well as 20 students from River Valley High School, said the FFTH.
Other Singapore stories:
56% of Singaporeans want reduction in National Service period: poll
Man assisting police probe into video of Christian preaching to Muslim kids
Arianne Tay wins girls’ singles gold at World Junior Bowling Championships
