Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift 2023 Faces Donation Shortfall, Appeals for Public Support

In a challenging turn of events, Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift (BBSG) 2023 is grappling with a shortage in donations as it embarks on its mission to support a record-breaking 45,431 beneficiaries this Christmas season. The first wave of food hamper deliveries kicked off today with over 100 volunteer vehicles participating in the Car Flag-Off ceremony.

This year marks a historic high in beneficiaries, including 2,800 families under the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s (MSF) Community Link (ComLink) program. However, BBSG reports a concerning shortfall in General Wishes donations and daily delivery sign-ups compared to previous years at this stage of the project.

As of the project’s launch ten days ago, BBSG has achieved only 25% of its General Wishes targets, lagging behind by 306 out of 404 available registration slots for daily delivery sign-ups. Urgently addressing this, BBSG appeals to the public for contributions, specifically highlighting the need for halal canned food, beverages, and biscuits, and calls for volunteers to aid in nationwide food hamper deliveries.

The Car Flag-Off event, attended by more than 300 volunteers at Nanyang Polytechnic, symbolized the beginning of BBSG Food Hamper deliveries. Led by Mr. Rom Lee, Chief Agency Officer of Prudential Singapore, and Mr. Poh Leong Berg, Honorary Vice-President of The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore, the event saw the participation of close to 400 volunteers from Prudential Singapore.

Returning as the Presenting Sponsor for the 15th consecutive year, Prudential Singapore announced a generous donation of $200,000 to fund healthier-choice food items for BBSG Food Hampers, benefiting KidSTART families and ComCare and ComLink families.

The Car Flag-Off is a pivotal event, marking the commencement of BBSG Food Hamper deliveries during the festive season. This unique aspect of BBSG allows volunteers to personally connect with beneficiaries, making the experience impactful and meaningful. Each volunteer vehicle will reach out to five households, delivering two BBSG Food Hampers to each.

With the project experiencing a slower start than previous years, BBSG urgently calls on the public to contribute food items. Donations can be made at six regional BBSG collection stations or online through FairPrice Online. Additionally, pre-curated BBSG Food Hampers can be purchased at Cheers and FairPrice Xpress convenience stores.

Volunteers are encouraged to participate in the door-to-door delivery of BBSG Food Hampers from 5 to 27 December, with three daily sessions at the Boys’ Brigade Headquarters. Cash contributions can also be made online via BB PayNow QR Codes displayed in 155 FairPrice stores and various online platforms until 31 December.

The clock is ticking, and BBSG is relying on the support of the community to ensure a bright and festive holiday season for all.