Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift in urgent donation appeal, only 8% of target achieved
SINGAPORE — The Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift (BBSG) charity project is urgently appealing for donations, with only 8 per cent of its donation target achieved at the halfway mark before it ends on 31 December.
In a media release on Thursday (3 December), the Boys’ Brigade said that this marks the lowest-ever donation amount for the project, which was launched on 18 November. The Boys’ Brigade did not disclose a figure for its target.
This year’s project aims to support about 41,423 beneficiaries. Yahoo News Singapore understands that the project was able to achieve its target of supporting 43,276 beneficiaries in last year’s event.
“Many may not be able to receive BBSG’s support this year, if the project fails to achieve its donation target,” it added in the media release.
Challenging donation drive amid COVID-19
Henry Tan, chairman of BBSG 2020, admitted that it has been a challenging donation drive for the project amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, BBSG made several changes to the project, to ensure the safety of its donors, volunteers and beneficiaries. The project has ceased collection points for food items and gifts, and is instead appealing for cash donations via online platforms.
These changes seek to minimise face-to-face interactions at donation counters and during delivery, in adherence to safe management measures.
“We would like to urgently appeal for the public’s contribution, as we seek to support our beneficiaries in a time where they would be most in need of help,” Tan said in the media release.
“We hope that the public can join us by donating or participating in our delivery drives, so that all our beneficiaries will be able to receive support this year.”
First batch of deliveries by special convoy
To kick-start the project’s delivery drive, BBSG made its first batch of deliveries on Thursday, via a convoy comprising senior representatives from The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore, Prudential Singapore and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).
The convoy, alongside volunteers from life insurer Prudential, delivered both customised hampers and health and wellness packages to KidSTART families at Jalan Kukoh. These packages are part of an early childhood nutrition programme by ECDA and Prudential, and comprise healthier-choice food items and groceries, such as rice and oil, and multivitamins for young children.
Prudential will also be distributing hampers comprising healthier-choice food items to 2,000 senior beneficiaries from government funded ComCare programmes.
How to donate to BBSG
Members of the public who are keen to donate can do so via BB PayNow, Giving.sg and at AXS stations from now till 31 December.
The cash donations will be used to purchase “General Wishes” NTUC FairPrice vouchers for beneficiaries and “Specific Wishes” – specific items beneficiaries request for. The public can also order and donate food hampers via FairPrice Online.
About 6,000 “General Wishes” beneficiaries from government-funded ComCare programmes will be receiving FairPrice vouchers worth $40.
Meanwhile, 24,318 beneficiaries will be receiving food hampers donated by the public via FairPrice Online and bulk delivered to the social service agencies.
There will be three delivery sessions (10am, 12pm and 2pm) open to public volunteers each day, with 10 volunteer sign-ups limited to each session.
Distribution will take place between 7 and 30 December, and interested individuals can register online. There are 380 out of 660 registration slots still available for daily public delivery sign-ups.
For more information, please call the BBSG hotline at 1800-2274273 (1800-BB-SHARE) or visit its official website. Latest updates on the project’s progress can be found on the BBSG Facebook page.
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