When news of the outbreak of COVID-19 among the migrant workers’ dormitories first surfaced, various groups across Singapore came together to offer help in different ways. The first concern that came to the mind of #SGStrong grantee Charlotte Mei was if the workers in isolation had enough to eat. Her contacts had told her that the main meals were taken care of but snacks were needed to help them tide through the days.
With #SGStrong funds, Charlotte connected with and brought in snacks such as bread and biscuits from various local companies. Within just two and a half weeks, more than 1300 packs of snacks were sent into the quarantine areas including hospitals. In an effort to also tackle the food waste issue in Singapore, Charlotte worked closely with Treatsure to supply dormitories with surplus food from different F&B brands.
Given the many contacts and large volume of food to be delivered across the island, logistics was one of the greatest challenge the #SGStrong grantee faced. This was also her first time initiating such a community project. However, she was undaunted and encourages everyone to step out of their comfort zones when they see needs on the ground. “If it has never been done before, there is no correct way and everything is a learning process. Even if it benefits just one person, it is worth it”.
We hope that Charlotte’s project will inspire all to take action during this period to support each other in the community. Together, we are stronger than COVID-19.