Published 31 July 2015 ● Last Updated on 8 October 2020
According to the NEA in 2014, 788,600 tonnes of food waste was generated in Singapore of which just 13% was recycled. The rest – the weight of almost 2 Empire State buildings! – was disposed of at the incineration plants and then landfilled.
The world has more than enough food to end hunger. The problem is distribution – and this is the problem that The Food Bank Singapore tries to fix – bridging the gap by moving the surplus from those who have it to those who need it.
The Food Bank Singapore, a registered charity, was founded by siblings Nichol and Nicholas Ng in 2012 with the aim to fight hunger and reduce food wastage in Singapore. It has “Bank Boxes“ at various locations in Singapore where one can drop off excess food items; these get redistributed to the needy through its network of member beneficiaries such as family service centres, various types of homes, soup kitchens, and other Voluntary Welfare Organisations.
How can you help?
Start looking into your kitchen cabinets. Are there food items lying there that you have purchased some time ago or any that you don’t need anymore? Probably because you tried one and didn’t like the flavor? Any excess rice, instant noodles, canned foods, sauces, sweets, chips etc.? The Food Bank Singapore accepts all types of non-perishable food items that are unopened, unused and with at least 4 weeks of shelf life. Here is a list of their most needed food items.
Alternatively, you can show your support by buying Food Bundles of your choice.
You can also sign up to be a volunteer (more details here) or give cash donations to support their operations.
Let’s do our bit to support our local community, make a difference by helping those who struggle to make ends meet and make our planet more sustainable.
-*Related blog post “Composting wet kitchen waste“.
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