In conjunction with The Methodist Church in Singapore’s (MCS) 135th anniversary (MCS 135), Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) has raised $1.58 million from its “Donate to Bless” fundraising campaign. The campaign was initiated to help distressed and low-income families of all races and religions who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We pray that our small gesture can help to ease disadvantaged families’ burden and enable them to focus on emerging stronger and more resilient from this pandemic,” said MWS Group Executive Director Junie Foo.
Giving Blessings to Others
As part of its social objective to uplift and bless vulnerable groups to celebrate the significant anniversaries of MCS (see box below for details), MWS has channelled over $160,000 of the funds raised to 12 charity organisations selected by MWS Patron Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung to reflect the diverse nature and needs of our community.
They are:
- Autism Resource Centre (Singapore)
- Beyond Social Services
- Breakthrough Missions
- Caregivers Alliance Limited
- Cassia Resettlement Team
- Christian Outreach to the Handicapped
- Daughters of Tomorrow
- Metta Welfare Association
- Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura
- Ramakrishna Mission Boys’ Home Singapore
- The Helping Hand
- Tamar Village
“For The Methodist Church, serving others is an expression of our faith. As the largest Protestant group in Singapore, MCS strongly believes in doing our part to strengthen the fabric of society by encouraging inclusivity and promoting religious and racial harmony,” shared Bishop Dr Chong.
The charity organisations attended the ceremony held on 23 Oct 2020 on behalf of their beneficiaries.
Softening the Blow of the Pandemic
The MWS “Donate to Bless” campaign aimed to provide financial assistance of $1,350 each to help families meet their basic needs, while equipping them with the resources to handle the impact of COVID-19 on their lives.
To date, the campaign has received over 1,000 applications for financial assistance from MWS centres, Methodist churches, schools as well as the 12 selected charities.
The “Donate to Bless” campaign closed on 31 October. We would like to thank all who have helped to raise funds on the ground, as well as our generous donors who were willing to give despite the challenges during this time. Let’s continue to do what we can to reduce the pain and suffering of people in need around us.
Deepening our Impact
MWS has been marking the key anniversaries of MCS by giving back to the community in various ways.
In 2015, to mark MCS’s 130th Anniversary, MWS spearheaded the Getting out of Debt Programme and Wheels for Good to raise $3.4 million to lift the burden of debt from families in need. To commemorate MCS’s 125th Anniversary in 2010, MWS raised $1.8 million to provide financial assistance and befriending support to low-income families.
Together with the $1.58 million raised by “Donate to Bless”, MWS has raised a total of $6.7 million to bless people in need.
Here are some details of the families benefiting from the “Donate to Bless” campaign
- Almost seven in 10 have per capita household income of $500 or less
- Nearly eight in 10 live in 1-, 2- or 3-room flats, mostly housing five members or less
- More than half or 54 per cent are from non-intact families where members are single parents, separated, divorced or widowed
- Over 65 per cent are unemployed
- They face a host of complex and multiple problems:
- More than 40 per cent have chronic and severe medical conditions or family members with special needs
- 20 per cent have recently lost their jobs
By the MWS Communications Team / Photos courtesy of the MCS Communications Team