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Boys Brigade Share-a-gift and Healthy with KidSTART initiative

By KidSTART Singapore November 19, 2020

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As featured in the Straits Times

President kicks off online fund-raising for Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift

President Halimah Yacob at the opening ceremony, with Prudential Singapore’s chief executive Dennis Tan (left) and FairPrice Group’s CEO Seah Kian Peng. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID

President Halimah Yacob made a symbolic first donation by scanning a QR code using a bank app yesterday at the Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift (BBSG) charity drive.

With her at the opening ceremony at BB Campus in Ganges Avenue are Prudential Singapore’s chief executive Dennis Tan and FairPrice Group’s CEO Seah Kian Peng.

Madam Halimah, who was the guest of honour at the event, noted how local charities and non-profit organisations have adapted their programmes and fund-raising efforts amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, BBSG – a national community service project organised annually by The Boys’ Brigade, with support from the National Council of Social Service and the Ministry of Social and Family Development – will not be accepting food items or organising gift collection points.

It is appealing for cash donations via online platforms instead. BBSG 2020 will also be distributing FairPrice vouchers to its beneficiaries.

The public can still order food hampers, via FairPrice Online, which will be delivered to 24,318 beneficiaries from social service agencies.

The public can also donate online via BB PayNow (found displayed in 145 FairPrice stores across the island) and Giving.sg.

They can also use AXS stations to donate from Dec 1.

Correction note: An earlier version of the story said President Halimah Yacob donated $40 at the launch of the Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift (BBSG) 2020 yesterday. The Boys’ Brigade has clarified that the donation made during the ceremony was a symbolic donation to the first beneficiary to launch the BBSG programme, and was set at $40 to match the value of the FairPrice vouchers that each beneficiary will receive. It was not the actual donation made by Madam Halimah. She had in fact earlier pledged to donate to 200 beneficiaries when she agreed to grace the opening ceremony.


This article was originally featured in the Straits Times, published Nov 19.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 19, 2020, with the headline ‘President kicks off online fund-raising for Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift’.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/community/president-kicks-off-online-fund-raising-for-boys-brigade-share-a-gift

As featured in Zao Bao (早报)

少年旅今年坚持办活动 公众改以礼篮购物券行善

来自 / 联合早报

文 / 王嬿婷    摄影 / 邬福梁

发布 / 2020年11月19日 3:30 AM

少年旅昨日在总部为爱心礼物2020年举行开幕仪式,哈莉玛总统(中)与到场的嘉宾通过扫描二维码付款,做出第一个线上捐赠。(邬福梁摄)

由于疫情影响,少年旅今年不设立实体收集站,但公众仍可通过职总平价网购服务订购价值20元、50元或80元的食物礼篮,或者在线捐款,帮助主办单位购买职总超市礼券和实现受益者愿望。

鉴于冠病疫情,迈入第33届的年度少年旅爱心礼物首次改变捐赠方式,不设立实体收集站以减少面对面接触,转而通过派发购物礼券和鼓励公众线上订购食物礼篮,把圣诞温暖继续传递给4万1423户收益家庭。


This article was originally featured in Zao Bao (早报), published Nov 19 2020

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20201119-1102072

As featured in Berita Harian

Boys’ Brigade manfaatkan wadah derma online di tengah pandemik COVID-19

18/11/2020 19:19  Update: 18/11/2020 21:37

SINGAPURA: Kempen amal tahunan Boys’ Brigade “Share-A-Gift” atau Mengongsi Pemberian, diperbaharui tahun ini dengan memanfaatkan wadah sumbangan online.

Ia bagi menjaga keselamatan dalam masa pandemik ini sambil membawa keceriaan kepada lebih 41,000 penerima yang disasarkan.

Pada tahun-tahun sebelumnya, orang awam boleh menyumbang makanan menerusi cawangan FairPrice.

Namun tahun ini, Boys’ Brigade tidak lagi mengumpul makanan dan pemberian secara langsung.

Sebaliknya orang awam boleh menderma wang menerusi wadah-wadah digital, seperti PayNow, laman Giving.sg dan mesin AXS.

Buat pertama kali dalam 33 tahun, baucar FairPrice akan FairPrice akan diagihkan.

Orang awam masih boleh mengirim hamper makanan menerusi laman FairPrice Online.

Temphahan mereka akan dikirim kepada lebih 24,000 penerima bantuan Agensi-Agensi Khidmat Masyarakat. 

– CNA/ZK/ha


This article was originally featured in Berita Harian, published Nov 18 2020

https://berita.mediacorp.sg/mobilem/singapura/boys-brigade-manfaatkan-wadah-derma-online-di-tengah-pandemik/4538608.html

As featured in Yahoo Singapore

Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift in urgent donation appeal, only 8% of target achieved

Staff Writer, Singapore Editorial Team

3 December 2020

Guests from Boys’ Brigade, Prudential Singapore and Early Childhood Development Agency with KidSTART families in Jalan Kukoh at Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift 2020 first distribution drive. (PHOTO: Early Childhood Development Agency)

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 PayNowGiving.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.


This article was originally featured in Yahoo Singapore, published Dec 3 2020

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/boys-brigade-share-a-gift-urgent-donation-appeal-8-per-cent-target-achieved-123239282.html

As featured in The Business Times

Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift 2020 urgently appeals for donations

Charity project seeks to support 41,423 beneficiaries but many may not be able to benefit if target is not reached.

MON, DEC 07, 2020 – 5:50 AM

VIVIEN ANG    vivang@sph.com.sg

Guests from Boys’ Brigade, Prudential Singapore and ECDA with KidSTART families at BBSG 2020’s first distribution drive.
BT PHOTO: ECDA

SINGAPORE

THE Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift (BBSG) 2020 is appealing for donations, as the project has crossed its halfway point, but only achieved 8 per cent of its donation target.

This marks the lowest-ever donation amount the project has received at the halfway point in its history. The charity project, which was launched on Nov 18, seeks to reach out to about 41,423 beneficiaries this year. Many may not be able to receive BBSG’s support this year, if the project fails to achieve its donation target.

Henry Tan, chairman of BBSG 2020, said: “It has been a challenging donation drive for BBSG thus far, and we would like to urgently appeal for the public’s contribution as we seek to support our beneficiaries at a time when they would be most in need of help.

“Amidst the pandemic, BBSG has implemented various safe management measures to ensure that our donation and delivery drives can be carried out safely. 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.”

This year, to ensure the safety of its donors, volunteers and beneficiaries amid Covid-19, the project has ceased accepting food items and done away with gift collection points, and is instead, appealing for cash donations via online platforms.

Additionally, unlike previous years, not every “General Wishes” beneficiary will be receiving BBSG signature food hampers.

Approximately 6,000 “General Wishes” beneficiaries from government-funded ComCare programmes will be receiving FairPrice vouchers, while 24,318 beneficiaries will be receiving food hampers donated by the public via FairPrice Online with the bulk delivered to the social service agencies.

BBSG’s presenting sponsor, Prudential Singapore, will be reaching out with hampers of wellness items to 650 low-income families in the KidSTART programme. The life insurer will also be distributing hampers comprising healthier-choice food items to 2,000 senior beneficiaries who are part of government-funded ComCare programmes.

BBSG kickstarted its delivery drive last Thursday – with a convoy comprising senior representatives from The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore, Prudential Singapore and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) – completing the project’s first batch of deliveries to beneficiaries.

There are 380 out of 660 registration slots still available for those wanting to help deliver items to the beneficiaries.


This article was originally featured in The Business Times, published Dec 7 2020

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/life-culture/boys-brigade-share-a-gift-2020-urgently-appeals-for-donations

As featured in 8 World

少年旅首次以数码方式收集善款物资

2020年11月18日 19:43 发布

2020年11月18日 22:10 更新

受疫情影响,举办了33年的少年旅爱心礼物活动改变运作模式,首次采用全数码方式,收集捐款和食品捐赠。总统哈莉玛表示,疫情期间欢度年底佳节,可以以不同的形式传播欢乐,让活动变得更有意义。

以往公众所熟悉的超市捐赠站,将由这个人形纸板取代。公众可以使用手机扫描二维码,以电子支付方式捐款给爱心礼物。

为减少过程中的接触,公众也可以通过网上超市购买礼包。少年旅表示,受防疫措施限制,原本打算取消今年的活动,但过去几年开辟更多网络和电子渠道让公众乐捐,反应良好,所以决定以线上模式续办活动。

少年旅长官郑万峰表示:“我们相信之前在当中参与的民众会乐意从实质的物品捐献转到网上捐献。不只是本地的民众可以参与,我们在海外的民众也可以参与。”

哈莉玛总统为活动主持开幕时表示,疫情打乱了国人的生活,但不影响为弱势群体提供援助的精神。

哈莉玛说:“过去几个月我们看到非营利组织和慈善机构的筹款活动如何做出调适,而这在这艰难的时候尤其重要。庆幸的是大多都善用科技,提升线上活动也增强了数码能力。”

活动即日起一直举行到12月31日,今年的目标是送出3万3000份食物礼包和礼券、完成近8500个特别愿望,受惠者预计超过41万人。


This article was originally featured in 8 World (Channel 8), published Nov 18 2020

https://www.8world.com/news/singapore/article/boys-brigade-share-gift-online-1313331