SINGAPORE : Supermarket retailer NTUC FairPrice is doing its bit to help tsunami victims in the region and it is inviting shoppers to chip in by buying S$10 food relief packages.
NTUC Fairprice staff were putting together 5,000 food relief packages at its warehouse.
Each package contains staple food items like rice, milk and biscuits; in total the supplies are worth S$50,000.
These packages will be delivered by partner airline Cathay Pacific to Colombo later this week.
But that is not all the supermarket chain is doing.
NTUC FairPrice chairman Chandra Das said, "Previously we just donated ourselves; but apart from donating ourselves, we are asking other Singaporeans to join up with us and we will be able to do more. I think many Singaporeans want to do something but they don't know how to do it."
Come January 1, members of the public can buy these Food Relief Packages at S$10 each from supermarkets.
Each package sold will then be sent to affected areas, including Aceh and India.
The retailer, which is working with humanitarian organization Mercy Relief on this project, aims to raise S$100,000.
Mercy Relief says this will kickstart its own programme, with volunteers in Sri Lanka within the next few days.
Hassan Ahmad, executive director of Mercy Relief, said, "We've already got requests from our partners in Sri Lanka for food supplies and we will be using this contribution from NTUC to channel it there.
"Its very natural; the extent of the damage there is the most extensive, and our partners there are ready to receive these relief supplies."
You can also donate cash as donation cans will be placed at all FairPrice outlets from Thursday. - CNA
When I read the ZaoBao after I stepped into SG, it seems that they threw the bags around... No care made
Also, why are they packed here? Didn't they consider that when the bags are on the C-130, there are chances of bags being damaged when the plane lands?