Community groups have launched an online platform to help low-income families whose plight during the coronavirus pandemic was featured in The Straits Times on 19 Apr.
It noted the systematic gaps that these families face such as food insecurity and low wages.
These shortfalls inspired the name of the initiative – Mind the Gap – which was put together by volunteers after an outpouring of public sympathy.
More than 100 readers contacted The Straits Times directly, with others commenting on its social media pages. Many said they wanted to provide financial assistance or groceries, with some offering employment to those who had lost their jobs or income in the circuit breaker period.
Mind the Gap was set up to distribute these offers effectively and quickly to families who need them most urgently. It has also set itself a target of raising $50,000 to augment the campaign.
Donations will go into a common pool of funds that will support households served by organisations such as the Association of Women for Action and Research, Cassia Resettlement Team and Daughters Of Tomorrow.
The platform’s website also allows employers to offer job opportunities to breadwinners from low-income families.
Read more here.
Source: The Straits Times, 20 April 2020