A new community grocery shopping initiative will help East Coast GRC residents on lower incomes to get more value on daily essentials, and bring down their cost of living.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, Jessica Tan, and Cheryl Chan, launched the “Project 200=100 @ East Coast” initiative on July 28 at Fengshan Community Club. All four are Members of Parliament for East Coast GRC.
Under the initiative, blue and orange Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) cardholders living in East Coast GRC will be invited to Fengshan Community Club bi-monthly to do grocery shopping.
They can buy up to $200 worth of groceries and will receive a 50 per cent discount on their purchase. Around 400 types of essentials like rice, eggs, cooking oil, coffee, and body wash are available for purchase.
In a Facebook post, DPM Heng said the two-year initiative aims to benefit about 6,000 households. “Together, we can build an even more inclusive and caring community for our East Coast residents!”
Ms Chan told Lianhe Zaobao that many hands are needed to strengthen the social cohesion within a community. “We hope that more organisations will step forward to sponsor the groceries.”
According to the organisers, eligible residents chalked up at least $40,000 in discounts in the first community grocery shopping session.
The initiative is organised by the East Coast Grassroots Organisation with support from Heartwarmers Volunteer, DHL Singapore, Standard Chartered Singapore, and community organisations.
Residents in Kampong Chai Chee receive discounts within the estate
Kampong Chai Chee (KCC) residents are also receiving help with cost-of-living expenses.
About 5,000 residents — including blue and green CHAS card holders—will benefit through Gd Lobangs @ KCC, a pilot programme launched by grassroots leaders and local businesses in April this year.
Residents who sign up for Gd Lobangs @ KCC are issued stickers, which will give them discounts at participating merchants at Bedok Town Centre.
As at the end of June, over 40 merchants and hawkers have participated in this initiative.
In a Facebook post SMS Tan, said the initiative aims to help residents cope with rising costs while harnessing the community spirit.
“I’m particularly happy with Gd Lobangs because it’s a good example of the Kampung spirit that is growing at Kampong Chai Chee. Eateries are stepping up to work with us to offer more affordable meals and with time more eateries will be joining the Gd Lobangs@KCC programme.”
In June, when the Government gave out $300 in CDC vouchers to every Singaporean household, SMS Tan and his grassroots team also worked with merchants to provide more discount to Singaporeans.
Between June 29 and July 7, shoppers who spent $20 CDC vouchers at participating merchants in one receipt received a $2 Gd Lobangs @ KCC voucher redeemable until July 31. Residents who signed up received double the amount, $4 vouchers. In total,15,000 of the $2 vouchers were distributed to residents.
This follows an earlier Kampong Chai Chee grocery voucher scheme that has benefitted 1,022 residents since 2023. The scheme, limited to one applicant per household, provides each recipient with a $50 grocery voucher to help cope with rising costs.
Another initiative, the WeCare@KCC spectacles assistance scheme, in partnership with Lenskart, provides free eye care and spectacles for needy East Coast GRC residents, especially children and seniors. Launched by SMS Tan in October 2021, it has benefitted 312 residents so far.
