SPD Gives Back to the Community

We are thankful to our donors, volunteers and partners who supported us. In gratitude, our staff spent a day helping out at other community organisations over the past few months.

We are thankful to our donors, volunteers and partners who support the work that we do. In gratitude, our staff spent a day helping out at other community organisations as part of our annual corporate social responsibility activity over the past few months.

Community Partnerships Division at Red Cross

Community Partnerships Division helped out with setting up of a bazaar at Red Cross
Community Partnerships Division helped out with setting up of a bazaar at Red Cross

The Resource Development and Communications and Outreach folks spent half a day on 8 November helping the Red Cross set up its fundraising charity bazaar that weekend.

They sorted, arranged and displayed items and prepared them for the bazaar, including hanging up racks of donated clothes for sale.

“SPD often organises its own fundraising events and we understand that manpower is required to help with the logistics before the actual day. Hence, we were happy to help out by leveraging on what we are good at,” said assistant director of Communications and Outreach, Geraldine Lai, who arranged for the team to volunteer at Red Cross.

Corporate Services Division at Bukit Panjang Public Library
SPD@Bedok at Library@Harbourfront

Corporate Services Division colleagues sorting books at Bukit Panjang Public Library
Corporate Services Division colleagues sorting books at Bukit Panjang Public Library

While assisting with the sorting, arranging and placing of books onto the shelves at the Bukit Panjang Public Library in October, the Corporate Services Division colleagues gained a better understanding of the work of librarians and appreciated their efforts in making the library a pleasant reading environment and community space for everyone. “As the books are sorted manually, we have to pay attention to the colour codes, symbols and numbers that indicate the different genre and categories. Any mistake will result in readers not being able to find their favourite books. Kudos to the librarians,” said IT executive Lim Wah Teck, who added that the experience was an eye opener for him.

SPD@Bedok colleagues at Library@Harbourfront
SPD@Bedok colleagues at Library@Harbourfront

For the SPD@Bedok team who volunteered in October, they were impressed with the new Library@Harbourfront, where visitors can enjoy the scenic view of Sentosa and various reading and learning spaces in the largest public library located in a shopping mall.

“Working together as a team makes our tasks lighter and faster. It was satisfying to know that our small efforts could enhance the experience of library users,” said social work associate, Michelle Tham.

Day Activity Centre (DAC) at SPD@Toa Payoh

Our DAC colleagues wanted to do something different this year. Instead of volunteering with other organisations, they decided to spend time at SPD@Toa Payoh in July, helping out with the cleaning of the premises and equipment and interacting with our senior clients through dance and indoor games.

Senior training officer Furzanne Humsin shared that it was fulfilling experience for her, having learnt more about the differences between how DAC and SPD@Toa Payoh operate daily. “Our older generation have made huge contributions to the success of Singapore, but we may not have paid enough attention to them as many of us are so busy with our lives. It was a heart-warming experience seeing their smiles when we spent time with them,” said Furzanne.

DAC colleagues spent their volunteering day at SPD@Toa Payoh
DAC colleagues spent their volunteering day at SPD@Toa Payoh

Organisational Development Division at the Society for the Aged Sick

Colleagues from the Organisational Development Division brought festive atmosphere to the residents of the Society for the Aged Sick this mid-autumn festival in August. They put their hands together to make mooncakes and lanterns to celebrate the occasion. “We had a pleasant time with the residents and I could see that they enjoyed themselves too, being so enthusiastic in trying their hands in making the mooncakes,” said lead executive, Chan Pang Hong.

The team and the residents then enjoyed afternoon tea with the mooncakes they had made together.

Organisational Development Division making lanterns with the residents of the Society for the Aged Sick
Organisational Development Division making lanterns with the residents of the Society for the Aged Sick

Rehabilitation Centre at the Food Bank

Rehabilitation Centre colleagues sorted food items at Food Bank
Rehabilitation Centre colleagues sorted food items at Food Bank

Therapists and support staff from the Rehabilitation Centre located at SPD Ability Centre assisted the Food Bank in September where they sorted out the donated food items and inventorised them.

The team learnt that food waste was among the five largest sources of waste in Singapore, which served as a reminder for us not to buy or store more than what we could consume.

Sheltered Workshop Team at Man Fut Tong Nursing Home

Our Sheltered Workshop colleagues spent a lively morning with 25 residents of Man Fut Tong Nursing Home at Woodlands in September. They engaged the residents in a sing-along session and craft activity. As part of skills-based volunteering, our occupational therapists designed a series of fun and engaging physical exercises to encourage residents in wheelchairs to stay active. The session concluded with the residents receiving goodie bag each that included their preferred beverages and snacks, courtesy of our Sheltered Workshop colleagues.

Sheltered Workshop colleagues volunteered at Man Fut Tong Nursing Home
Sheltered Workshop colleagues volunteered at Man Fut Tong Nursing Home

SPD@Toa Payoh at Beach Clean Up

SPD@Toa Payoh colleagues cleaning up the Sembawang beach
SPD@Toa Payoh colleagues cleaning up the Sembawang beach

Colleagues from SPD@Toa Payoh equipped themselves with gloves, tongs and trash bags to clean up the beach at Sembawang in November. They gathered bags full of trash – Styrofoam pieces, plastic bottles, plastic bags and glass bottles, among other refuse items – that were scattered on the beach and floating in the water.

“We were taken aback by the amount of rubbish on the beach and are now more aware of the detrimental effects of waste to the environment. We are glad to have participated in this cleaning up exercise,” said therapist assistant, Nur Ellyana.

Everyone has the capacity to give. Give back in ways that are possible for you and receive joy while doing so.