A suspended meal refers to a concept in which people pay in advance for a meal that will be provided to those who request it later. The request for these extra meals are usually people who are not financially able to pay for the meal.
As countries continue to progress, the Gini coefficient increases - the rich get richer, leaving the poor even poorer than before. In Singapore, up to 140,000 households fall below the basic income expenditure of $1250 a month - this equates to about $312 per person. This means that up to 560,000 people live under this income bracket. Given Singapore's high cost of living, it is unlikely that people can live comfortably with $312 per month.
As countries continue to progress, the Gini coefficient increases - the rich get richer, leaving the poor even poorer than before. In Singapore, up to 140,000 households fall below the basic income expenditure of $1250 a month - this equates to about $312 per person. This means that up to 560,000 people live under this income bracket. Given Singapore's high cost of living, it is unlikely that people can live comfortably with $312 per month.
Rice Garden, a social outreach program initiated by NTUC FoodFare in 2009, aims to provide highly nutritious meals starting at $1.50 per meal. Apart from their affordable meals, Rice Garden allows people to purchase food vouchers at $2.50. These vouchers can then be given out to whoever you deem to be needy - the cleaners in the vicinity, the granny collecting old newspapers. The vouchers can be redeemed at any Rice Garden outlet (over 30 outlets nationwide). This pay it forward initiative allows people in the community to contribute and help people in need.
However, such schemes have its limitations. These initiatives are usually promoted and made aware to people through traditional media or social media. However, those who are truly needy may not have access to these platforms. The elderly living in one-room flats may not have access to television, or even newspapers to know about such initiatives happening around them. To further ensure that such initiatives target these specific groups of people, it is imperative that better strategies are adopted to make it known to them. This may include approaching them at their homes to inform them about how the community has come up with plans to provide them with affordable and even free food such that they do not go to sleep hungry. Comparing to simply donating to organisations who help the needy and the homeless, the act of physically giving these coupons out to those you think deserve it will allow us to see the direct impacts of our efforts.
References:
http://danielfooddiary.com/2014/01/29/ricegarden/
http://www.foodfare.com.sg/rg-locations.html
http://dollarsandsense.sg/3-hard-truths-about-poverty-in-singapore/
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