Temples give out food rations to 1,200 needy families
About 1,200 needy families yesterday received food rations, courtesy of a joint philanthropic effort by a Taoist and a Hindu temple. -ST
Tan Weizhen
Tue, May 20, 2008
The Straits Times
ABOUT 1,200 needy families yesterday received food rations, courtesy of a joint philanthropic effort by a Taoist and a Hindu temple.
The recipients, many from elderly and single-parent households, were from neighbourhoods in Sembawang, Chong Pang, Canberra, Nee Soon East, Nee Soon Central and Nee Soon South.
Each got a package containing 5kg of rice, a packet each of beehoon, instant noodles and sugar, and a can of baked beans.
The giveaway cost the Hock Huat Keng and Sree Veeramuthu Muneeswarar temples $25,000, with supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice chipping in by giving a 20 per cent concession on the food items.
It was not the first time the temples have come together for charity projects like this.
For many recipients, like Madam Som Raskit, a 56-year-old single mother of three boys, the food rations are a buffer against rising food prices for at least a while.
Another recipient was Madam Gopal Jaiyanthi, 54, a single woman who lost her job as a security guard recently when she had to undergo surgery on her hand.
She said: 'I am not sure when I will find another job, so this will certainly help.'
Students on financial aid, such as 15-year-old Nor Shaqina and her sister, were also there to collect the food rations for their family.
The two temples, which sit side by side in Yishun Industrial Park A, had help from the community to organise the food giveaway.
Besides 50 helpers from the temples, 100 students from the nearby Northbrooks Secondary School set aside time to pack and distribute the rations.
Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam, who was present at the event, was impressed by how the two temples worked together on the charity project.
Mr Shanmugam, who is also an MP for Sembawang GRC, said: 'This is truly unique. Malays, Indians and Chinese are gathered at this event organised by a Chinese and a Hindu temple. Added to that is the fact that I'm an Indian minister and Hindu, invited by a Chinese temple.'
Asked whether the Government would also undertake to hand out food rations, he said the Government had already given cash rebates for the goods and services tax hike, as well as Economic Restructuring Shares.
Food rations, he said, should come from private institutions and individuals.
'Such acts will bond the community more,' he added.