SINGAPORE: Charities are appealing to donors to spread the year-end festive cheer as they face dwindling donations.
The Boys’ Brigade is hoping to bring cheer to 45,000 beneficiaries, the highest number so far.
However, the brigade has collected only about half of the items needed for its hampers, said its executive director Desmond Koh.
“Last year around this time, we had already reached about 55 per cent of the collection. So I would say collection is still a little bit slow, and we continue to appeal to the public to continue donating,” he said.
Each hamper contains more than 20 items including canned food, Milo and biscuits, he said.
Efforts are also underway to fulfil wishlists from lower-income families that include items like stand fans, shoes, milk powder and hearing aids. One even asked for a wushu sword for a co-curricular activity in school.
Mr Koh said he is holding out hope that Singaporeans will come through.
“They’ve been very generous, and we have faith that they will continue to (be). I think for us, the trick is to really put out the call and to let people know what we’re short of and how much more we need,” he said.