Food security is an important concern for everybody. And it is a major concern for Food Bank Singapore, an organization that seeks to end hunger among the needy and the less privileged with an efficiently run distribution effort. It amazingly works both ways: ending food insecurity and reducing food wastage. More people do not need to go to sleep with an aching tummy and more food do not need to go straight to the bins.
Ng Siblings are Feeding It Forward
It was the idea of siblings Nichol and Nicholas Ng to introduce food banking in Singapore. Having seen the trouble on the ground as they go about operating their food distribution business, FoodXervices Inc Pte Ltd., they realized the need and acted on it. With hundreds of thousands of tons of wasted food and a poor recycling rate of 13%, the Ngs decided it is time to put up Food Bank Singapore in 2012.
Food Bank carries out the mission of a centralized movement that collects food donations from all over—farms, manufacturers, distributors, stores, and even ordinary consumers. One of its partners is the popular food delivery service foodpanda, which donates $.50 for every order that they get. All the food donations then reach the less fortunate individuals and families through Food Bank’s beneficiary partners, which include family service centers, soup kitchens, voluntary welfare organizations (VWOs), homes, schools, and religious establishments.
At present, the Food Bank is working with 360 beneficiary organizations that reach around 250,000 people spread across various demographics. It holds daily meal programs, community pantries, and emergency food rations delivery—everything that could help end hunger, food insecurity, and food wastage, and get their food charity “out of business”. The moment Food Bank goes out of business, that means there are no needy people and no food wastes to be concerned about.
Feeding the City Amid the Pandemic
Although it has been around for quite some time, the Food Bank is not very popular on the ground because their donations are distributed to the charities they support. But since the COVID-19 pandemic hit and most charity efforts had to cease due to the safety measures in place, it became a word of mouth, so to speak. People started getting to the Food Bank directly, asking for food.
It may not be how things were but this is not how things were as well. So the team moved on from doing zero cooked food donations to distributing around 13,000 hot meals per day. Feed the City became its main program. The Food Bank worked with local food and beverage businesses to hand over food to the needy while helping the businesses to survive the pandemic as well. In no time, it started gaining steam and got the attention of industry biggies, including the Michelin-starred Bib Gourmand and Plate restaurants, which offered to join the effort.
Help End Food Insecurity
The Food Bank’s mission to end food insecurity and wastage in Singapore in all forms would not be possible without volunteer support. If you want to make a meaningful contribution to your community, given the amount of time you can spare, check out the available volunteering opportunities:
- Warehouse Volunteer – The Food Bank warehouse is always buzzing with food donations coming in and out of the door. If you can sign up to any of the 3-hour timeslots from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am-1:00 pm and 2:00 pm-5:00 pm, you may enlist as a warehouse volunteer. Your role is to sort, take inventory, and pack food donations. Due to the current COVID situation, only 10 volunteers per slot are allowed. You will also need to book your slot and follow safety health protocols to carry over the role.
- Delivery Driver/Assistant – Help assist the collection of deliveries of food donations, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, every day. You can take a shift any day you might be free to do so.
- Food Bank Box Masters – Food Bank boxes are scattered everywhere to collect food donations. Your role as a master is to take your own vehicle, collect the boxes, and deliver them to the Food Bank warehouse located at: 218 Pandan Loop, XPACE, Level 3, Singapore 128408.
- Ad Hoc Volunteers – From time to time, the Food Bank needs an extra hand to help them at events and roadshows and to drive up its social media campaigns. Sign up as an ad hoc volunteer and you will be enlisted for a job that is most appropriate for you whenever the need came up.
- Junior Foodbankers – The Food Bank believes in starting ‘em young. That’s why it hosts ad hoc volunteering opportunities for children aged 5-12 years old, slated every quarter when school’s off because of the holidays. You may enlist your child and let them have fun while learning their way through the Food Bank initiatives.
To be part of the Food Bank team, you may send an email to: [email protected].
Soon enough no food is wasted as nobody is going hungry. It is an important and worthy cause worth supporting.
