Sowing Care Together (SCT), a movement under the Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA), in partnership with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) Social Service Office @ Bedok (SSO@Bedok), organised a community iftar for over 100 low-income families residing in Bedok town on 5 April 2024. This initiative aimed to provide these families with an opportunity to experience the Ramadan breakfast in a communal setting, fostering a sense of togetherness and allowing them to share the moment with people from diverse backgrounds.
The community iftar was graced by Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of National Development, and Lead POH for Bedok Town ComLink Alliance, Mr. Tan Kiat How. He joined 450 people, including residents, partners, guests, and volunteers, making the event a memorable and unifying experience for all involved.
During this event, CommLink families under the care of SSO@Bedok received Sowing Care Together Ramadan Care Gifts, which included rice, food packs, and vouchers to help with expenses during the fasting month and the Hari Raya festival that follows. These gift items, worth $100 per family, were made possible through contributions from Free Food For All, PwC Singapore, HouseBrand, and various F&B establishments.
PwC Singapore, a leading professional services firm, sponsored $50 NTUC vouchers for the families supported by SSO@Bedok. Additionally, PwC Singapore employees volunteered at the event, assisting with the organization and engaging with beneficiaries as they broke their fast.
PwC Singapore Foundation and Hope Initiative Alliance working together this Ramadan is a meaningful way for us to go hand-in-hand as a community of solvers to make a difference and contribute to communities in need. It is also a humbling and immersive experience for our volunteers, who have fasted for a day, to break their fast together with the community. This collaboration is a tangible way for each of us to be part of bringing our PwC purpose – to build trust in society and solve important problems – to life. - Charlotte Hsu, Corporate Responsibility and Inclusion and Diversity Leader, PwC Singapore
Five F&B businesses contributed 5kg rice packs to each family. Pagi Sore Indonesian Restaurant, 9s Seafood, Ayam Penyet President, The Meatry, and The Oddle Company collectively donated 750kg of rice towards this cause. Chef Park of Pagi Sore Indonesian Restaurant coordinated this generous contribution from his industry peers. Additionally, Spice Village Catering, a Muslim-owned business, and Tulasi, an Indian vegetarian restaurant, sponsored food for the breaking of fast dinner.
I am immensely grateful to HIA for this charity initiative. This year, not only was i able to fulfil my own small role in contributing towards some families' household expenses, but I was given an opportunity, to be able to bring together like-minded brothers and sisters in the F&B industry; To pool together resources and embark on a united effort to give more to the beneficiaries. As a group, we raised enough to purchase a 5kg rice pack for each family. I always believe that with many hands, we are strong enough to move mountains. I thank my "comrades in food" for joining me on this meaningful initiative without any hesitance. I am thankful for the care everyone showed towards lesser privileged Singaporeans and resident. - Chef Park, Owner of Pagi Sore Indonesia Restaurant
The pandemic years have strengthened our resolute and resilience. Learning from this invaluable lesson is important. This we do by keeping the good practices, and founding our lives on the enduring principles. By so doing, we emerge stronger, together, as a united society. We will continue to nurture peace and radiate blessings to all. These community Iftars and care gifts by HIA’s Sowing Care Together further contribute to this objective. They will also distribute Hari Raya green packets to 150 children from lesser privileged families. We are grateful to see people of different racial and religious groups caring for each other, as one humanity. - Ustaz Dr Mohammad Hannan Bin Hassan Deputy Mufti for Islamic Religious Council of Singapore and Member of Interfaith Charity Advisory Council at Hope Initiative Alliance
Sowing Care Together Ramadan 2023 Charity & Volunteerism is a month-long charity project
that is raising donations towards activities and items intended to benefit 150 families and
children from low household incomes. It is organised with the help of youths and young adults from the SCT Youth Council who are from different races and religions. Through this initiative, they aim to cultivate the culture of working together for the common good.
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