DBS will commit a total of S$10.5 million to help affected individuals across its six key markets, the bank announced on April 16.

Through this “DBS Stronger Together Fund”, the bank will provide about 4.5 million meals and care packs to affected individuals in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia and Taiwan.

In Singapore, the bank will be partnering two non-profit organisations to render help to the vulnerable people in Singapore.

S$2.5 million to provide free meals to the elderly, low-income and migrant workers

According to its press release, DBS Bank will be partnering The Food Bank Singapore and ItsRainingRaincoats to put food on the tables of the elderly, low-income and migrant workers.

For a start, the bank will provide 200,000 meals to the elderly and low-income through The Food Bank Singapore's "Feed the City-DBS Edition" programme.

The meals will come from 15 F&B SMEs in Singapore, including Koufu Group, Chang Cheng Group, Wee Nam Kee and Gao Ji.

The Food Bank said that the Covid-19 situation has displaced many from their jobs, contributing to a greater demand for food support in Singapore.

Monetary and food donations have fallen sharply during this period as well.

Nichol Ng, co-founder of The Food Bank Singapore, said:

“The Covid-19 situation has largely affected our ability to reach out to the beneficiaries as we are running low on food and funds. As their level of food supply has dropped, we have also noted more requests from beneficiaries as they are unable to put food on the table during these uncertain times. Through DBS’ support, we can continue to run our ‘Feed the City’ programme, and to meet the basic needs of those affected.”

Another 100,000 meals will be provided to migrant workers, supported by ItsRainingRaincoats, through “Project Belanja”.

According to the founder of ItsRainingRaincoats, Dipa Swaminathan, there are close to 750,000 migrant workers in Singapore and only a fraction of those are in the gazetted dormitories.

Dipa also shared that the remaining workers who are not living in gazetted dormitories require assistance with food for various reasons, including enhanced movement restrictions and lack of funds.

"Many workers who are lodged elsewhere continue to need assistance with food during this time for various reasons: they are in quarantine and not able to access food, they are without funds to buy groceries or unable to cook due to shutting down of communal kitchens, etc. Our team of volunteers has been working around the clock to support any such worker who appeals to us in hunger through Project Belanja. We are hugely fortified in this battle now with the added support of DBS and confident that together we will help our workers and in doing so, help our entire community overcome this crisis.”

Rally more to do good together

To encourage its employees to help the people in need, every employee meal pledge will be matched by the bank.

DBS also hopes that the public will join in to contribute to this cause and the bank will match dollar-for-dollar public donations raised, up to a total of S$500,000 for the above-mentioned food programmes.

For those who are interested, you can make donations towards meals for migrant workers here.

Public donations towards meals for the elderly and lower-income can be made here.

With the support of employees and fellow Singaporeans, DBS aims to provide a total of 700,000 meals to those in need.

Top photo via DBS Facebook