NOTE:
The WP reached out to TISG to clarify that the 800 sets of care packs were prepared and donated by Aram Living Ltd to a number of VWOs and beneficiaries organised by different parties.
These care packs were not prepared or donated by the Workers’ Party or The WP Community Fund. The WP Community Fund are grateful partners of Aram Living Ltd and their generous donors, through whom we were able to benefit residents of WP wards.
TISG has updated the events below accordingly.
Leaders and volunteers from the Workers’ Party had a busy weekend in preparation for Deepavali, which will be celebrated next Monday (Oct 24).
WP chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday (Oct 16) that Deepavali packs for low-income households had been prepared for distribution all over Singapore.
800 sets of care packs were prepared and donated by Aram Living to various welfare organisations, including the WP Community Fund and their beneficiaries.
He posted a photo of a team of donors and volunteers, headed by Mr Nathan, who has spearheaded efforts to collect and put together the packs for several years from the void deck of his block at Lorong Ah Soo in the Paya Lebar ward of Aljunied GRC.
This year is a very special one, however, with the number of packs exceeding 800 for the first time.
“The WP Community Fund and other volunteers are helping with the distribution of the packs which will go to residents all over the island from Sengkang, Aljunied, East Coast and Hougang and beyond before Deepavali on 24 Oct,” added Mr Singh, who also invited other residents from Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC or Hougang SMC who might be interested in a similar activity.
“Do you wish to kick-start an organic initiative like Mr Nathan did and need some help in doing so? Get in touch with your local WP MPs and we will do our best to facilitate your community work!” he wrote.
Some Indian residents on food distribution programmes or who reside in rental units and surrounding blocks in the Paya Lebar division received the goody bags as of Saturday afternoon (Oct 15).
The WP’s efforts were led by party chair, Ms Sylvia Lim, as seen in photos shared on the Aljunied GRC Facebook page.
“Deepavali not only marks the end of evil but also the triumph of good, and what better way to celebrate goodness than sharing with those in need in the community?” the caption read.
The goody bags sponsored by Aram Living gave “a full day’s requirement for Deepavali celebration—such as papads, ghee, mooruku, umapodi, wax lamps and sparklers, and more.
The 4 packs that each household received demonstrated the generosity of the sponsors.”
Over at Sengkang GRC, MP Jamus Lim also gave out care packages that had been assembled by Mr Nathan and the team over the weekend to Indian residents at Anchorvale and Compassvale.
“The packages—which contained both sweet treats as well as provisions for cooking provisions (I was sufficiently gian that I ended up tapaoing biryani for the family dinner)…
Our distribution team included those of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian ethnicities (our fabled CMIO!), all working toward helping the less fortunate in our community…
The packs are a testament that #SengkangGRC is a modern kampong, one where we look out for each other.” /TISG