COVID-19 has impacted different strata of society unequally. Many low-income families with children are greatly affected by COVID-19, such as reduced income or loss of employment. Children’s Wishing Well has extended our help to as many children and their families as possible during this challenging period, even those registered under other social service agencies. Here are some of the services we are providing island-wide during COVID-19, including during the circuit breaker period:
We provide a budget to help very low-income families buy furniture, electrical appliances, and/or payment of debts, up to a certain limit per family. These families should have at least one school-going child under MOE FAS, and PCI < $300.
We have a weekly grocery collection programme for each child to select about $50-$60 worth of groceries items per week, which they pick up for free from our centre in Clementi. Such items include rice, cooking oil, canned food, eggs, fresh fruits, bread, breakfast cereals, hand soap, toilet paper, etc. Families which are in more dire need are also given additional supermarket vouchers. We arrange delivery for families who live further away.
We provide laptops or tablets with broadband access (built-in SIM cards) to children who have no access to devices for their Home-Based Learning (HBL).
We provide cooked lunch (or dinner during Ramadan period) for takeaway during the circuit breaker period, and dine-in during normal operation times. This is to ensure that no disadvantaged child goes hungry, and they have access to at least one healthy and delicious meal a day.