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MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY  MEDIA ADVISORY

22 January 2021

To News Editor

1,700 VOLUNTEERS – MOST-EVER SINCE INCEPTION – STEP FORWARD TO SUPPORT FESTIVE GIVING IN CHALLENGING TIMES

Annual ‘Service Weeks’ programme to benefit 20,000 low-income residents through volunteer-led distribution of Festive Packs and provision of home improvement services

For the eighth year running, the North West Community Development Council (CDC) will hold its annual flagship campaign, WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks, which will run from 6 January 2021 to 7 February 2021. Some 1,700 volunteers from 68 corporate and community agencies will be partnering the CDC to spread festive cheer to nearly 20,000 residents living in rental units in the North West District. Despite the pandemic impacting the economy, and restricting the conduct of large-scale events, volunteers from companies, schools and community groups have answered the CDC’s call to give back to the North West community.

2 The volunteers will perform a variety of duties to bring the Festive Packs through the “supply chain”, from schools packing 14 healthier choice food items into the WeCare Festive Pack in advance, to corporate and community

partners delivering them to the residents. This year, the corporate volunteers will also provide home improvement for 55 households identified by North West CDC. One of the corporate volunteers is Gain City, which will be providing nine families with home improvement services in the Marsiling Division. Residents will receive items such as water heaters, washing machines, beds and more, to ease daily living problems and improve the quality of their lives.

3 WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks 2021 will be officially launched by Mr , Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance, and Adviser to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Grassroots Organisations on 23 January 2021. Mr Wong will be the guest-of-honour at the distribution activities at Woodgrove Division, hosted by resident Grassroots Adviser Ms Hany Soh, as well as Mr , Mayor of the North West District.

4 Attending Service Weeks for her first time as Adviser to the Woodgrove Division, Ms Hany Soh says, “Given the deep impact of COVID-19, our vulnerable residents have been affected, much like the rest of the District. I hope that Service Weeks can help to provide some relief to their daily needs. More significantly, I believe that the positive energy and passion of the volunteers can bring cheer to them as the festive season draws close.”

5 While the distribution of Festive Packs would go some way towards easing some immediate needs, the CDC anticipates longer term challenges for job seekers in a post-COVID world. To build resilience among the vulnerable residents and provide opportunities to them, the CDC has piloted an employability drive in tandem with the Service Weeks programme. It has actively tapped on its vast network of partners which are participating in the Service Weeks campaign to also provide employment opportunities. So far, five selected corporate partners that are largely in the residents’ backyard have reached out to support this initiative, for them to explore.

6 Mr Alex Yam, Mayor of North West District, says, “I’m heartened that CDC has provided a sustainable platform for corporate and community partners to give back those in need, year after year. The increase in the number of partners on board, as well as the many new faces, affirm that this is a meaningful programme for partners to contribute in their own ways. Many of them are partners and volunteers of our regular programmes in the CDC such as North West Care and Repair, Club-100 @ North West, North West Food Aid Fund and more. I am grateful for their unwavering commitment to the vulnerable communities of our

District. I truly hope that Service Weeks will inspire many more to step up to uplift the lives of the beneficiaries as we kickstart a brighter year ahead for all.”

7 To safeguard the health of all volunteers, Service Weeks 2021 will run under tight Safe Management Measures (SMM) implemented by the CDC. Volunteers will be in smaller groups and adhere to strict SMM. One of the corporate volunteers – Bigfoot Logistics will be supporting majority of the campaign’s transport requirements, which has expanded due to the stringent safety measures. According to Mr Sanny, CEO of Bigfoot Logistic Pte Ltd, sustaining the business during difficult times has been one of its key business priorities, but giving back to the less privileged is also a key part of the company’s mission and the company is determined to play its part for the community. To avoid overcrowding, the signature WeCare Festive Packs were packed by schools on their premises prior to the distribution, while other partners such as corporate partners, Social Service Agencies (SSAs) and Grassroots Organisations (GROs) will distribute the festive packs to 6,500 needy households. Each WeCare Festive Pack consists of 14 healthier choice food items funded by the North West CDC philanthropic club – Club-100 @ North West.

8 In addition to the Service Weeks programme, North West CDC has curated a suite of other sustainable programmes, to encourage the community to initiate ground-up projects to serve the community. For instance, the North West Care and Repair programme encourages corporates and community partners to uplift vulnerable families by adopting a rental block and organise social activities for the residents such as block parties, school activities and outings.

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Media Invitation

Media is invited to the Launch of WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks at Woodgrove Division on 23 January 2021. Media doorstops with the spokespersons who are present on-site could be arranged, contingent on Mr Lawrence Wong, Mr Alex Yam and Ms Hany Soh’s availability. CDC could also facilitate video and photo-taking of the distribution activities, which will be conducted under tight safe management measures. See below for details of the media site.

Media is also invited to two other sessions during the campaign (see Annex C). The full schedule for the 3-week campaign is listed in the FAQs.

WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks (Woodgrove) Date : Saturday, 23 January 2021 Media arrival : 8.50am Venue : Blk 569A Champions Way Singapore 731569 GOH : Minister Lawrence Wong Minister for Education and Second Minister for Finance Adviser to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Grassroots Organisations (Limbang)

Requirements due to COVID-19

1) All media required to use TraceTogether (either app or token) through the course of distribution. 2) All media should keep a safe distance of 1 meter from the resident, wear a face mask and frequently sanitise hands. 3) All media are to be accompanied by staff from the CDC Corporate Communications team for all media activities.

Contact Person for Media: Lydia Teo (Ms) Assistant Manager (Corporate Communications) North West Community Development Council Tel : 6248 5553 HP : 9749 7944 E-mail : [email protected]

Melvin Tai (Mr) Senior Manager (Corporate Communications) North West Community Development Council Tel : 6248 5545 HP : 9789 1824 E-mail : [email protected]

Enclosed:

1) Annex A – Quotes from Corporate Partners 2) Annex B – Programme for Launch of WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks (Woodgrove) 3) Annex C - Schedule of Media Sites for WeCare @ North West - Service Weeks

About North West Community Development Council (CDC)

Established on 24 November 2001, the North West Community Development Council (CDC) functions as the local administrator of the North West District; initiating, planning and managing community programmes to promote community bonding and social cohesion. Being closer to the ground, the CDC will be more attuned and responsive to the specific needs of our communities.

We strive to align our activities and efforts with our mission: (a) Assisting the needy To help the less fortunate through local assistance programmes (b) Bonding the people To bond the community through projects & programmes to bring them closer to one another (c) Connecting the community To develop strategic partnerships with corporate and community partners to better serve our residents

The North West District comprises Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Nee Soon GRC, Sembawang GRC and SMC.

Annex A

Quotes from Corporate Partners

Bigfoot Logistic Pte Ltd

Bigfoot Logistic was founded in 1992. The company had since developed a wide range of logistic and port services in tune with current market demands. Bigfoot Logistic Pte Ltd prides itself as the preferred partner for their customers in being a total logistic chain provider covering all stages of delivery, warehousing, permit clearance, freight forwarding, picking, packing, manpower supply and management services.

This is the 5th year Bigfoot Logistic is participating in WeCare @ North West - Service Week with North West CDC. This year, the company is supporting North West CDC in the logistic efforts to move the bags from the schools to the rental blocks for the corporate partners to do the distribution.

Gain City Best-Electric Pte Ltd

Gain City started in 1981 on the quest to improve the lifestyle and a focused vision to be Singapore’s trusted air conditioner retailer. Today, it is Singapore’s largest air conditioner retailer, providing excellent air conditioning installation and maintenance service provider, as well as the preferred go to one-stop retailer for consumer electronics.

This is the fourth year Gain City is participating in WeCare @ North West – Service Weeks and this year, they are providing 8 households with home improvements in the Marsiling Division. To date, Gain City supported nearly 30 households for Home Improvements as well as organised block parties to more than 200 households each year, since 2018.

Having an established understanding of home appliances, it hits home for Gain City to witness how hard life can be for houses lacking in basic appliances. To make home improvement services available to even more households, Gain City has rallied her own vendors and partners to support the campaign. Mr Kenny Teo, Managing Director of Gain City Best-Electric says, “When the heart is in the right place, volunteerism brings the best out of people. Our charity efforts have increased in scale and participation as we work with partners and employees who are motivated to help our communities.”

Quote from School Partner

Sembawang Primary School

Sembawang Primary School believes in providing a holistic education to help every child discover the joy of learning in a safe and caring environment. The school endeavours to develop her students to become self, community and peer leaders who affect positive changes to others and the spirit of volunteerism aligns to the school values of Care and Gratitude.

It is the first time the school is participating in WeCare @ North West Service Weeks for Canberra Division. 36 school volunteers were involved in the packing of 200 festive packs within an hour. Students shared that being involved in the packing of the festive bags gave them a feeling of being a part of something bigger.

Mrs Grace Chua, Principal at Sembawang Primary School says, “Being involved in community work creates an authentic learning experience for our students, which allow them to contribute with a sense of social responsibilities. Our students’ participation in the Service Weeks had allowed them to take on an active role to make a difference to others, developing their civic consciousness and nurturing them in their journey to become community leaders. It is a triple-win for all parties – corporate partners, schools and families who receive the festive packs.”

Annex B

LAUNCH OF WECARE @ NORTH WEST – SERVICE WEEKS (WOODGROVE)

SATURDAY, 23 JANUARY AT BLK 569A CHAMPIONS WAY SINGAPORE 731569

PROGRAMME ______

Time Programme

8.50am Media arrival

9.20am Arrival of Mayor Alex Yam

9.20am Arrival of Host Adviser Ms Hany Soh

9.30am Arrival of GOH Minister Lawrence Wong

9.35am Short Address by GOH / Group Photo

9.45am Start of Distribution

10.15am End of Distribution

10.20am Media Doorstop (on request)

10.30am End of Programme

ANNEX C

WECARE @ NORTH WEST – SERVICE WEEKS DETAILS FOR MEDIA SITES ______

Media Site (1) Woodgrove Blk 569A and 569B Champions Way Singapore 731569 Date 23/1/2020 Saturday Time 8.50am to 12.00pm GOH Minister Lawrence Wong Ms Hany Soh Corporate The Nielsen Company Partners Gold Kili Bigfoot Logistics Pte Ltd School Innova Primary School Partner Media Site (2) Chong Pang Blk 162 Yishun Street 11 Singapore 760162 Date 29/1/2021 Friday Time 5.30pm to 8.00pm GOH Minister K Shanmugam Corporate Master Contract Services Pte Ltd Partners School Yishun Town Secondary School Partner Media Site (3) Sembawang Central Blk 512 and 513 Wellington Circle Singapore 750512 / 750513 Date 07/02/2020 Sunday Time 8.30am to 12.00pm GOH Minister Corporate Lih Ming Pte Ltd Partners School Republic Polytechnic Partner Wellington Primary School