Community Support in every Lorong
Thinking of ways to better stretch your dollar? ‘Together in the Lorongs’ is a series of heartwarming community initiatives available across the island to help support Singaporeans in need!
Be it food options, health screenings or affordable clothes and accessories, the Lorongs have you covered. Check out the various programmes below for more!
For the Daily Essentials
1. Thryft Hub (Lower Delta)
"We make pre-loved items like books, clothes and more, available at pocket-friendly prices."
What: Started in 2019, Thryft is a recommerce platform (available online and in-store) that helps to make secondhand shopping more accessible and convenient for everyone. They carry a range of items including clothes, books, vinyl records and console games. Customers can choose to trade-in their pre-loved items which will be converted into credits that can be used at their store and online platform.
Get in Touch! For a wider range of items and to find out more details, visit thryft.asia.
2. Joy Box (Tampines)
"We share in their joy as recipients unpack the surprises lovingly prepared in their Joy Boxes."
What: Joy Box started since 2020 to spread joy to residents in need during the season of giving. It seeks to bring together the community to build personalised gift boxes for the beneficiaries. To date, they have delivered over 7,000 joy boxes which include items such as essential products and craft kits and stationery for children.
Get in Touch! Follow Tampines Changkat CC Facebook page for more info.
3. Community Repair Workshop (Ang Mo Kio)
"We started this initiative to help residents with simple repair works and also provide an avenue for seniors to be active and bond with the community."
What: Ever wondered what to do with faulty household appliances? In the heart of Ang Mo Kio, cherished household items are given a new lease of life at the Community Repair Workshop. The choice to repair can help residents save on the cost of replacement too. At the Workshop, residents can learn basic repair and troubleshooting skills to recycle and prolong the lifespan of their household appliances. They can also donate faulty appliances or items that are no longer in use at the Free Market. These items will be repaired and anyone in need can pick them up for free.
When: Every 2nd Saturday of the month
Get in Touch! Register for the workshop or sign up as a volunteer to learn about repairs and help your fellow neighbours!
4. The Barn (Various locations at Ang Mo Kio, Jurong and Katong)
"We make donated items like clothes and household appliances available at pocket-friendly prices."
What: Go treasure hunting for pre-loved goods, such as clothes, accessories and collectibles, at volunteer-run thrift store - The Barn, a thrift shop run by social service agency Cornerstone Community Services. For the budget-conscious among us, great news - it sells pre-loved items at pocket-friendly prices. For hobbyist collectors, a selection of toy figurines, stamps and unique souvenir items are available in-store. And for the fashionistas, rare brands which can only be sourced abroad are in stock.
Where and When:
| Barn Location | Address | Opening Hours |
| Ang Mo Kio | 591A Ang Mo Kio St 51, #01-35 | Opens Mon-Fri and Sun (1-4pm) |
| Jurong | 27 Penjuru Walk, #01-01 | Opens Tue through Sun at various hours |
| Katong | 11 East Coast Rd, #01-11/12 |
Get in Touch!
For donation enquiries, The Barn can be reached via WhatsApp at 9679 7379 (The Barn @ Katong & The Barn @ AMK) and 8811 9362 (The Barn @ Jurong).
5.
Care Cut (Jalan Kayu)
"We help the elderly and wheelchair-bound save on their monthly expenses with free haircuts."
What:
At Jalan Kayu, haircut services are right at residents’ doorsteps! Volunteers give low-income seniors aged 50 and above a fresh look with a free haircut. Seniors in the Hougang and Buangkok districts can walk in or book a “Care Cut” appointment with the Resident Network (RN) Centre.
Where and When:
| Location | Address | Opening Hours |
| Jalan Kayu Zone 1 RN Centre | Blk 951 Hougang Ave 9 #01-504 | Opens every 2nd Saturday of the month |
| Jalan Kayu Zone 8 RN Centre | Blk 985A Buangkok Crescent | Opens every 3rd Saturday of the month |
Residents in the area are encouraged to check the notice boards at their HDB void decks for more details.
6.
Loving Heart (Jurong)
"Our free tuition services are open to primary and secondary school students, focusing on core subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Science."
What: Are you a student in the West in need of academic support? One-stop social service center Loving Heart (Jurong) is on hand to provide free tuition services for primary and secondary school students in the area. Volunteer teachers provide guidance in English, Mathematics and Science. Recreational and enrichment activities are also available during the school holiday periods.
For families in need of financial aid, do drop in to enquire about the Meal and Transport Scheme and the Food Gift+ program that the centre runs.
Where: 316 Jurong East Street 32, #01-279
When: Opens Mon – Fri from 9:00am – 5:30pm
Get in Touch! For more information, residents and volunteers can reach out through Loving Heart (Jurong) website and social media platforms. The service center can also be contacted via email at contact@lovingheartjurong.org.sg or through phone at 6567 4166.
For Groceries
1. Food Rescue Sengkang (Fernvale and various satellite locations across Singapore)
"Anybody from all walks of life is welcome to rescue from us. We hope to help them reduce their monthly expenses and groceries bills."
What: Collecting around 15,000 to 50,000kg of unsold food from wholesalers and donors weekly, Food Rescue Sengkang redistributes them to communities in need across Singapore. Residents can collect food items ranging from fresh vegetables and fruits, to bread at Thanggam Hub every Saturday. They also have various satellite points islandwide, such as Sembawang West, Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon North, Marymount, Tampines, Yuhua etc. This helps the communities with their groceries needs and at the same time reduce food wastage.
Where: Food Rescue Sengkang Headquarters: Thanggam Hub, 40 Fernvale Road, every Saturday
Get in Touch!
Residents and interested volunteers and donors can visit foodrescuesk.com for more details.
2. Hao Ren Hao Shi Mobile Groceries (Various locations at Toa Payoh, Bukit Panjang, Bukit Batok and Bukit Merah)
"Our initiative allows residents to choose what they want and need, and we are very happy to be able to serve many areas in Singapore."
What: Helping 1,800 beneficiaries monthly, Hao Ren Hao Shi Mobile Groceries allows lower-income residents to choose food and essential household items directly from a truck right at their neighbourhoods. They serve residents in locations across Singapore such as Bukit Panjang, Jurong West, Toa Payoh, Jalan Bukit Merah, Aljunied, and Punggol etc.
Get in Touch! Residents can reach out to their RCs for more info and interested volunteers and donors can visit haorenhaoshi.org.sg/copy-of-as-individuals.
3. Love Connect Market (Jalan Besar)
"We want to encourage healthy living for our residents and provide fresh food for those in need every week."
What: Love Connect Market provides Kampong Glam residents with fresh food such as vegetables, fruits and eggs every Saturday, in hopes of alleviating cost of living pressures for the lower-income families and encouraging them to eat healthily. In addition to food products, residents can also find clothes and kids-related items at the Market.
Where: Love Connect Market: Jalan Besar Community Centre, 69 Jellicoe Road, every Saturday
Get in Touch! Eligible residents from Kampong Glam can find out more info and sign up at Jalan Besar Community Centre.
4. Food from the Heart (Various locations at Boon Lay, Lengkok Bahru, Mountbatten, Punggol)
"Residents are very happy and thankful to be able to select food items of their choice. It also gives them a chance to socialise with neighbours and our volunteers."
What: Serving around 59,000 beneficiaries from low-income families, Food from the Heart, is a non-profit food bank and it operates The Community Shop, which is a charity mini-mart allowing eligible residents to shop for free. Instead of being handed a food pack with items that they may not need, eligible residents get to pick up 12 – 14 food items of their choice, including local fresh produce and non-perishables. This helps them with their food needs and at the same time, reduces food wastage.
Where and when:
| Community Shop Location | Address | Opening Hours |
| Boon Lay | Blk 176 Boon Lay Drive #01-366 | Opens every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am to 12.30pm |
| Lengkok Bahru | Blk 55 Lengkok Bahru #01-389 | Open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm |
| Mountbatten | Blk 13 Old Airport Road #01-57 | |
| Punggol | Blk 224A Sumang Lane #01-02 |
Get in Touch!
Residents can approach the Community Centres in the above areas to apply. Interested volunteers and donors can check out the Food from the Heart website
or pop by the Community Shop’s 24/7 food drop to donate non-perishable food items.
1. Bukit Panjang $1 Deals (Bukit Panjang)
"The most satisfying moment is to see the joy and the relief on the faces of our residents when they collect their packages."
What:
To support residents with cost of living, Bukit Panjang $1 Deals offers various monthly dollar deals, ranging from biscuits and coffee to bento meals, for residents in the area. Residents can also look forward to collaborations with restaurants and merchants, as well as festive packages during special occasions.
Where: Bukit Panjang Community Centres and various Bukit Panjang RCs
Get in Touch! Residents from Bukit Panjang can find out more info from Bukit Panjang CC Facebook page and purchase the $1 Deals tickets. Interested volunteers can contact pa_bukitpanjangcc@pa.gov.sg.
2. Nee Soon Cares Vouchers and Budget Meals (Nee Soon)
"These vouchers allow us to buy food and groceries, and we can use them to offset our daily expenses."
What:
Similar to CDC vouchers, Nee Soon residents can register and redeem a one-off $40 Nee Soon Cares voucher and use them at selected market and food stalls in the area. This programme aims to benefit around 72,000 Nee Soon households. In addition, various food stalls at Nee Soon also provide budget meals under $3.50, providing residents with more affordable meal choices.
Where: Selected market and food stalls at Nee Soon
Get in Touch! Residents from Nee Soon can sign up online or approach their CCs for more info on Nee Soon Cares Vouchers.
3. Loaves of Love Bread (Kampong Ubi and Kampong Chai Chee)
"It’s nice to see that we are reaching out to the needy families in Chai Chee. They also appreciate us spending time to give the bread to them."
What:
Started since 2012, this initiative collects unsold bread from bakeries and hotels to distribute them to Chai Chee residents in need.
Get in Touch! Residents from Kampong Ubi and Kampong Chai Chee can approach the CCs for more info on the various initiatives to better support cost of living.
4. Good Lobangs @ Kampong Chai Chee (Kembangan)
"We started the Good Lobangs @Kampong Chai Chee initiative after receiving feedback from our residents, and we hope to help them alleviate the cost of living."
What:
Providing special eatery discounts for residents with Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) cards, Good Lobangs @ Kampong Chai Chee hopes to help alleviate pressures of costs of living for their residents. The programme aims to benefit around 5,000 Kampong Chai Chee residents who own CHAS cards. More partnerships with coffeeshops around the estate are currently being explored.
Where: Discounts can be found at:
- One Two Eat Food Court (CHAS Green, Orange, Blue cards, Pioneer and Merdeka Generation cards)
- Sushi Express (CHAS Blue card)
- Buddy Hoagies (CHAS Blue card)
- Al Mubin Foodcourt (CHAS Blue card)
- De Tian Coffeeshop (Bedok North outlet)
Get in Touch!
To be part of the initiative, Kampong Chai Chee residents can approach the Community Club counter for verification and receive a sticker for their CHAS card. Look out for monthly deals on the Telegram group chat
too!
5. Belanja-a-meal (Sembawang West)
"The program was designed to allow anyone to purchase meals in advance for someone who may not be able to afford one."
What: In bustling Sembawang West, ground-up community initiative Belanja-a-meal keeps an eye out for the hungry in immediate need of a meal. As the name implies, residents may make a small donation to ‘belanja’ (sponsor) a meal for anyone in need. If you are in need, simply walk up to any hawker stall with a Belanja-a-meal placard to ask for a sponsored meal. Donations may be made at Give Asia or at supported hawker center stalls. And if you are in need, call or email the contacts below for a BAM membership card that can be used at all 46 coffeeshops across Sembawang West.
Where: All coffeeshops in the Sembawang West area.
Get in Touch! Residents and potential volunteers can approach Woodlands Galaxy Community Club in-person or call their number at 6366 2218 for more information.
6. Budget Meals Programme (Punggol Shore)
"We wanted to offer residents a choice of cheaper food."
What: Every Punggol Shore food court and kopitiam offers at least one budget meal option priced at about $3.50. To provide residents with more affordable choices, some stallowners have even created a special budget food menu to complement their everyday sets! One can expect a wide range of cuisines and food types such as rice, noodles and snacks. Participating stalls also accept Punggol Shore WeCare vouchers.
Where: Food courts and kopitiams at Punggol Shore, Punggol Plaza’s Koufu included.
Get in Touch! Residents interested in applying for Punggol Shore’s WeCare vouchers can get in touch with Punggol 21 CC through phone at 6312 0508 or via email at PA_PUNGGOL21CC@pa.gov.sg.
For the Health Conscious
1. Community Health Post (Various locations across Singapore)
"We aim to motivate and empower residents to understand their health, and to make positive behavioural changes to their health."
What: There are more than 80 Community Health Posts (CHPs) in Central and North Singapore, under the National Healthcare Group (NHG). They provide convenient access for the residents to seek health information and understand their conditions. The Community Health Posts also conduct health talks and workshop for residents to better take charge of their health.
Health screenings are free for seniors with Pioneer Generation card; $2 for seniors with Merdeka Generation card, CHAS Blue or Orange cards; and $5 for those with CHAS Green card.
Where: Check out the various locations of CHP across Singapore:
- CHPs under NHG in Central and North of Singapore
- CHPs under National University Health System in West of Singapore
- CHPs under SingHealth in East, Southeast and Northeast of Singapore
Get in Touch! Find out more from the NHG website! For residents who require financial support, the clinic can also help with financial assistance schemes such as CHAS and the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund.
Back to top2. Public Free Clinic Society (Various locations at Geylang, Bedok, Clementi, Jurong, Tampines)
"When it comes to our patients’ health, we want to build a relationship with them and ensure that they trust what we are doing is good for them."
What: Public Free Clinic Society (PFCS) provides affordable medical consultations and services to seniors across Singapore. On top of operating at five outlets, they also provide services at community touchpoints including senior activity centres, nursing homes and family service centres. Patients only need to pay a registration fee of $2 and medication is charged on a per dosage basis. Procedures such as acupuncture, cupping, scraping, are also priced affordably at $3+. Residents with CHAS Blue cards can also enjoy an additional 30% discount.
Where and When:
| Location | Address | Opening Hours |
| Geylang HQ | 10 Lorong 9 Geylang | Open Monday to Saturday |
| PFCS Bedok | Blk 140, Bedok North St 2, #01-212 | |
| PFCS Clementi | Blk 327 Clementi Ave 5 #01-189 | |
| PFCS Jurong | Blk 539 Jurong West Ave 1 #01-102 | |
| PFCS Tampines | Blk 245 Tampines Street 21 #01-329 |
Get in Touch! For more info and to donate for their cause, you can check out the Public Free Clinic Society website.
3.
Alami Clinic (Changi)
"Our goal with Alami Clinic is to be the “one-stop shop” for this community. To us, you are far more than just a number."
What: Alami Clinic aims to provide coordinated care for seniors with complex medical issues them. They also link patients with other forms of community resources and conduct free health screenings in the community for conditions such as dementia and osteoporosis for seniors.
Where: 398 Changi Road, The Lenox, #01-02
When: Mon-Fri from 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturdays from 8:30am to 12:30pm.
Get in Touch! Seniors or caregivers can email ask@alamiclinic.com, call 6993 8100 or WhatsApp 8875 0634 for more information.
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