What is it?
The Community Shop (善粮小铺) is a giving better initiative by Food from the Heart for its beneficiaries in Singapore. The Community Shop functions as a mini-mart for beneficiaries and operates on a shop-for-free concept.
How does it work?
Food from the Heart's beneficiaries are empowered to choose 14 food items from the Community Shop each month, and can visit the Shop on multiple occasions throughout the month. Food items include fresh local produce, staples, canned food, bread spreads, biscuits, oil and condiments, all of which will allow beneficiaries to eat better.
The food items are redeemed through the beneficiaries' cards via a QR code-scanning checkout system.
RWS Eat Well @ Community Shop
In March 2023, Food from the Heart teamed up with Resorts World Sentosa to launch RWS Eat Well @ Community Shop, an initiative that aims to provide our beneficiaries with sustained access to fresh and nutritious food. Under the initiative, the integrated resort will contribute $300,000 to fund the supplies of high quality local produce to all Community Shops over three years.
Resorts World Sentosa staff helping Mdm Rosninah’s family to select fresh produce at the Community Shop @ Boon Lay
Learn more about the initative here.
Giving Better
The Community Shop is one of Food from the Heart's milestone initiatives that strives to give better by returning the dignity of choice to the needy; at the Shop, they are able to choose food items that they require instead of receiving standard food packages. This mental aspect helps to close the increasing gap in Singapore's standards of living; the experience of shopping allows them to see the range of products available at the Shop, compare them, and choose what they want to bring home.
The Shop gives the beneficiaries a reason to get out of their homes to have more interaction with others, creating opportunities for the community to look out for one another. Its food drop, which allows donors to drop off food donations at the Shop, also helps to keep the kampung spirit alive within the neighbourhood.
The Community Shop concept also results in less food waste as the beneficiaries are likely to finish all the items they chose themselves.
Through the QR code-scanning checkout system, Food from the Heart is able to digitally gather data on the consumption, needs and patterns of its beneficiaries. With such insights, a more meaningful and nuanced understanding of beneficiaries' dietary habits will also help us shape the future landscape in food distribution efforts. We hope to create an entire eco-system connecting donors, sponsors, volunteers and beneficiaries.
Get in touch to find out how you can get involved with the Community Shop or check out wish list items to donate to the Shops.
Locations
Community Shop @ Mountbatten
Community Shop @ Mountbatten serves close to 205 benefitting households from Mountbatten SMC.
The Shop is located at Blk 13 Old Airport Road #01-57 Singapore 390013. It is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Community Shop @ Boon Lay
Community Shop @ Boon Lay serves close to 1,000 beneficiaries and is located at Blk 176 Boon Lay Drive #01-366 Singapore 640176. The Shop officially opened on 24 March 2021 and operates every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Community Shop @ Lengkok Bahru
Community Shop @ Lengkok Bahru serves close to 750 beneficiaries and is located at Blk 55 Lengkok Bahru #01-389 Singapore 151055. The Shop officially opened on 23 February 2022 and operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
Community Shop @ Punggol
Community Shop @ Punggol opened officially on 31 May 2022 and serves more than 650 beneficiaries. It is located at Blk 224A Sumang Lane #01-02 Singapore 821224. The Shop operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
I want to say a BIG thank you on the opening of the Community Shop @ Punggol. My spouse and I live in a rented HDB flat in the vicinity. Previously, we collected the free monthly groceries at the void deck. Some of the items were not suitable for us, so we left them at the void deck for my neighbours. Today is our first time visiting the shop and utilising my beneficiary card. It is very helpful and useful to us. This is indeed a fantastic initiative. There are so much choices of food items. We now have the freedom to choose what is suitable for us. In this way, there is less wastage. On behalf of the residents, thank you again to all who are involved and contributed in this community project.
