Singapore — Residents of St Theresa’s Home in Upper Thomson were in for a treat as they were able to feast on hawker food purchased through donated Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers.
Emily Yap, a regular volunteer at the nursing home since she was in primary school, recently used her family’s CDC voucher to buy 100 packets of carrot cake for the residents.
Ms Yap, 22, is a palliative care nurse at Alexandra Hospital and was inspired to donate the S$100 voucher instead of using it to buy food for herself and her family.
“These residents have been in the nursing home for a long time for their own protection,” said Ms Yap in a Straits Times report.
“By providing delicious hawker centre food, I hope it can bring them good memories and make them feel better.”
Ms Yap’s initiative made the holidays more festive for the elderly and, at the same time, supported 134 Yong Ji Traditional Black Carrot Cake, a hawker stall in Bukit Timah Food Centre.
“This pandemic has been hard on them with all the dining restrictions; hence, they need all of our support to survive,” Ms Yap added.
The S$130 million CDC voucher scheme was launched on Dec 13 to benefit all Singapore households.
It aims to thank Singaporeans for their sense of solidarity during the pandemic and support hawkers and merchants hard hit during these many months.
Up to 1.3 million households will receive S$100 in CDC vouchers, which can be claimed and spent before Dec 31, 2022.
Ms Yap, who is also a member of grassroots organisation Dunearn Neighbourhood Committee, said the committee has pledged another S$300 worth of vouchers.
“Thank you to all volunteers and sponsors for supporting local hawkers and bringing Christmas cheer to the elderly,” the committee wrote in a Facebook post on Friday (Dec 24).
The opportunity for members of the public to donate their CDC vouchers is still open. Those who wish to support local hawkers and bring cheer to St Theresa’s Home’s elderly can email the Dunearn Neighbourhood Committee here at LOU_Huizhen@pa.gov.sg /TISG
Read related: How to tell which hawkers, businesses accept CDC vouchers