Belanja-A-Meal is a meal programme organised by Resident Committees in collaboration with local eateries and residents.
By: Kavi Bharathi
In September 2018, the Toh Guan View Resident Committee (RC) introduced a meal programme, called Belanja-A-Meal. After eight months, this programme has proven itself successful by providing free meals to several low-income residents in Singapore.
Belanja means to pay for in Malay hence the name Belanja-A-Meal basically means pay for a meal. Anyone visiting Toh Guan food Centre can pay an extra $3.50 with their purchases in exchange for a meal token that is later used by needy recipients to redeem a free meal and drink.
According to Mr Jack Loke, the RC Manager of Toh Guan View RC, this programme was inspired by pioneer programmes like "Chope food for the needy" and was first started in the Bukit Batok East (BBE) Community Club earlier in 2018. Since the programme had a huge success rate in BBE, it was also adopted by Toh Guan Estate's Toh Guan Food and Drink Centre.
Recipients of this programme are carefully chosen by the local Grassroots Organisation based on their financial status and are issued a renewable meal card every month to enjoy this benefit. Mr Loke said, "Toh Guan RC has about 10 recipients due to our small size."
Mr Loke also mentioned that when the programme was first announced, the stall owners in the food court readily accepted and welcomed the programme despite the fact that there were no benefits other than publicity.
"Some meals cost $5 but [the] meal programme only pays $3.50 for the extra meal [resulting in] stalls having no profit," said Mr Raymond Chang, the coffee stall owner. He also said that despite the lack of monetary benefits everyone in the food centre was eager to do his or her part to help needy residents through subsidised meals.
Mr Lim Guan Meng, a Toh Guan resident, said, "I like the meal programme idea and am happy because it's [about] doing good. So, I donate."
Mr Loke stated that due to all the generous residents in his estate, the meal programme has been “a huge success” in Toh Guan so far but he also worries that "meal programme won't be sustainable in the future if the number of recipients increase". This is because the programme sustains itself through residents donating money so if the number of donors decrease, so do the funds for the programme.
But despite this problem, the RC does not want to accept help from private organisations. Mr. Loke points out that this is because "Belanja-A-Meal is a community effort where residents help recipients in need" and that "bringing in new players would defeat the purpose of the programme".
On the other hand, Ms Sunny Lim, an RC member said that the only solution to long-term sustainability is to "promote more as I think not many people [are] aware."
As of now, the Belanja-A-Meal programme is successfully active in four eateries across three estates in Singapore with all of them helping about 40 recipients in total.
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