SINGAPORE – DBS Foundation announced on March 29 that it will roll out a $7.3 million initiative in June to enhance the physical and social well-being of vulnerable seniors in Singapore. The programme, aimed at addressing nutritional and social isolation challenges, will provide twice-weekly nutritious meal distributions to 6,000 lower-income individuals aged 60 and above over two years across 12 towns, including Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, and Queenstown.
As part of the initiative, DBS’s 14,000-strong workforce will contribute by engaging with seniors through monthly bonding and enrichment activities. Additionally, quarterly grocery shopping trips will allow participants to stock up on $60 worth of essential items.
The foundation is collaborating with community partners to promote regular social engagement among seniors. The programme, launched in celebration of Singapore’s 60th birthday, was announced during the DBS Foundation’s Community Pop-up Market event in Khatib on March 29. The event was attended by Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and Nee Soon GRC MPs Louis Ng and Carrie Tan.
Karen Ngui, head of DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, highlighted the bank’s commitment to addressing isolation and loneliness among seniors in addition to household and nutritional needs.
“We hope this initiative will further strengthen Singapore’s social compact. DBS Foundation aims to catalyse mindset shifts around ageing, encouraging everyone to live with purpose and dignity. We want to create a paradigm shift, enabling all of us to age well and strong. Together, we can build a healthy, vibrant aged society,” Ms. Ngui said.
The Khatib event marked the conclusion of a seven-month series of 38 pop-up markets organized by DBS Foundation. These markets have collectively contributed $3.8 million and involved 2,000 volunteers, benefiting over 30,000 households. Participants from lower-income households were able to select around $100 worth of groceries and essentials for free, alongside receiving financial planning and nutrition advice.
Karen Wee Siew Lin, Executive Director of Lions Befrienders Service Association, one of the foundation’s community partners, praised the impact of the pop-up markets.
“The pop-up market has been a vital platform for connecting vulnerable seniors with essential resources and social support. We look forward to DBS Foundation’s new SG60 programme, which will further strengthen these efforts and empower communities with greater access to care and meaningful engagement,” she said.