FFTH's novel food distribution transforms lifestyle of hundreds of people, saves thousands of dollars and sustains several charities. Our contributor Siva finds out.

There was a time when residents of Metta Student Care Centre merely had biscuits for breakfast and at tea-breaks. "Now, students have a wider choice," says Metta's director Ms. Toh Mui Choo Gena.

Wider choice here would mean cakes, pastries, puffs, cookies, bread, buns, what have you. "Such donations items could be a luxury to some," says Gena.

But not any more for hundreds of residents at Singapore's welfare centers, thanks to Food From The Heart (FFTH). For instance, Geylang Senior Citizen needs food and beverages items for some events such as birthday party, Christmas party, tribute programme, mooncake festival, etc. "FFTH had supplied free food items such as pastries and beverages for the events," says Mr Lau of GSC.

Dr. Ma San Aye and Mr. Wee Hian Chew of the Society for the Aged'agree: "Our Home needs about 200 pieces of bread/day and FFTH provides us the required amount every day."

Welfare centres testify their residents are happier after FFTH entered their lives. Besides promoting good health, the food distribution programme fosters a sense of caring and belonging, camaraderie and compassion. "Our elderly look forward to having the pastries," says Lau. Adds Wee: "FFTH brightens our residents' breakfast and even their tea-break with extra food."

It is not just the needy who benefit from FFTH. Organizations in the service of the needy say FFTH has made a crucial difference to their functioning. FFTH, they aver, helps save money and time, besides slashing costs and freeing up time for noon-food tasks.

For instance, Metta charges a low fee of $210 per month. "To cut down expenditure, we need sponsors who can donate essential items to us," says Gena. FFTH donates food which slashes Metta's breakfast and tea-break bills to a large extent. Agrees Wee. "Our Home saves about $ 1,000 per month on bread."

Benefits galore. A reliable charity such as FFTH, Wee says, helps his "Home" save on manpower, time and money. He recalls, "FFTH delivered free bread even during the SARS outbreak." Gena endorses the view. "Our staff no longer needs to go out and buy. FFTH sends the items right to our doorstep. That leaves our staff time to do other chores."

Not just chores, money saved on bread part-funds more welfare activities. Lau says, "Our centre makes use of the money saved on bread for other programmes like free health screening and free nutritional foods."

No wonder, charities appreciate FFTH and underscore the ripple effect one good initiative can have on the society at large.

In Wee's perception, FFTH is an organization that helps the needy by delivering unsold but fresh bread from bakeries to welfare centres. "FFTH avoids food wastage and provides food to the elderly, the children, the old, the poor and the disabled."

Lau is thankful toward FFTH. "We wish it all the best. We hope it will keep up the good work. We look forward to its invaluable support in our future events."

Concurs Wee. "We really hope that people at large will support and sponsor this well-run and well organized programme. Helping FFTH would mean helping the needy."

On a personal note, he concludes: "Our Home really appreciate Mr and Mrs Laimer and FFTH volunteers for their kind heart, and also their partners Prima food, Four Leaves, Delifrance, Simply Bread, Blossomville, for their kind donations. And also thanks to Doreen Seah for her great job in liaising with our Home."

FFTH has gone beyond helping institutions – it is now reaching out directly to individuals.

Needy families are escorted to the FFTH consolidation centre at Jalan Redop by volunteers using either public or private transport. Once there, volunteers guide the families through the goodies available. Each child gets to choose two toy items, one clothing item and one book item. On top of that, families also receive a goodie bag containing food items such as rice, cooking, oil, noodles and Milo, all of which have been donated to FFTH. Needless to say, the families are very happy when they leave !

Through a little effort and innovation, FFTH has been able to use the same infrastructure and pool of volunteers to reach out to needy individuals. It is like a second program altogether and we are extremely optimistic about this program growing from strength to strength.