When thinking about dining out with our friends or getting a gift to celebrate a birthday, we often purchase whatever from places that are most convenient to us. However, why not make the experience even more meaningful by purchasing from places in Singapore that go the extra mile and give back to the community?
From cafes that whip up yummy treats to unique handmade pouches, we’ve compiled a list of 9 places in Singapore that support communities in need. This 2022, make a difference by simply doing good as you dine and shop.
ASPN Café For All isn’t just your typical neighbourhood cafe that serves halal western food and aromatic coffee to perk up your days. Created in collaboration with Andes by Astons, the café is an APSN enterprise that provides vocational training for special needs trainees, preparing them for open employment and lifelong learning.
Additionally, they do customised bulk orders of pastries and confectionery for weddings and corporate events. At the moment, they only accept takeaway orders, and for sales enquiries, you can email sales@apsn.org.sg.
Address: 11 Jalan Ubi (Block 4), #01-31, Kembangan-Chai Chee Community Hub Singapore, Singapore 409074
Opening hours: 9.30am to 4.30pm (Takeaways on Mondays to Fridays)
Contact: Call 6708 9876
Website | Facebook
If you’re looking to get customisable floral bouquets or hampers filled with goodies for your bae, Bizlink Gift’s wide variety will have you spoilt for choice. A team of talented persons with special needs crafts and designs cards, lifestyle products and apparels of your choice.
Additionally, you can enjoy a hearty brunch at Bizlink F&B, a cafe that provides training and employment to persons with mental health conditions.
Address: 10 Buangkok View, Buangkok Green Medical Park, Singapore 539747
Opening hours: 7am to 4pm (Mondays to Fridays) | Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
How to order: Online via its website
Contact: Call 6249 8143 or email giftenquiry@bizlink.org.sg
Website | Facebook | Instagram
For those who love handmade crafts that are both chio and practical, you’re in for a treat with Arts@Metta. Through providing special education and youth employment support, Metta Welfare Association nurtures youths with special needs to become skilled artisans. Whether it’s handcrafted pouches or mask purses featuring their signature batik prints or exquisite pottery pieces, these handicrafts are also extremely affordable.
Check out Metta Café too, which trains Metta School graduates with mild intellectual disability and autism. Metta Café specialises in eggless cookies and pastries which are freshly baked daily as ideal gifts, and are available both in store and online. Halal Singaporean delights such as Hor Fun and Bee Hoon are also available — a great way for you to enjoy local food while supporting youths.
Address: 32 Simei Street 1, Level 1 Metta Building, Singapore 529950
Opening hours: 7am to 5pm daily
How to order: Online via its website, Fairmarch or Shopee
Contact: Call Arts@Metta at 6580 4656 | Metta Café at 6580 4624 or email alumni@metta.org.sg
Website | Facebook | Instagram
There’s nothing like showing someone how sweet they are by gifting equally sweet goodies. MINDS social enterprise programmes, that involve individuals with special needs such as MINDS Bakers, create seasonal tidbits and cookies. Personalised gift packaging is also available, whether it’s for birthday parties or corporate events.
Meanwhile, MINDS Crafts has adorable bead brooches and painted tumblers you can pair with these sweets for the ultimate gift package for your besties.
How to order: Online via its website
Contact: Email se@minds.org.sg or fill in the enquiry form on the website
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Take the dining experience with your friend to the next level with Dining in the Dark by the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped. While eating as a sighted person is an easy and everyday task, Dining in the Dark is a cafe that presents the challenges a person with visual impairments will face in their daily lives with the use of blindfolds.
You will get to interact with a person with visual impairment who has been specially-trained to prepare and serve your meal while in the dark. That’s right, it means you must rely on your other senses to get you through this memorable dining experience.
Also, head over to their eShop known as Touch Art, where you can purchase beautifully crafted card holders, bookmarks and cushion covers created by the visually impaired.
Address: 47 Toa Payoh Rise, Singapore 298104
Opening hours: 11am to 4pm, 5.30pm to 7pm (Mondays to Fridays) | Closed on Saturday evenings, Sundays and Public Holidays
Contact: Fill in the reservation form on the website, call 6251 4333 or email ditd@savh.org.sg
Website | Facebook
There’s just something about art made by children that warms our heart in all the right ways. Morning Star Community Services aims to strengthen family relationships in need, so you can support them by purchasing colourful coasters specially designed by children from their After-School Care centres.
These coasters are filled with vibrant colours and patterns to express the children’s hopes and dreams. Flat water bottles designed by youths as part of a CITI-YMCA Youth For Causes project in support of Morning Star are also available as a convenient way to stay hydrated while on the go.
How to order: Fill in the order form on the website
Contact: Email contactus@morningstar.org.sg or fill in the contact form on the website
Website | Facebook | Instagram
From paper weights to keychains, Singapore Anglican Community Services eShop offers handmade dolls to represent the different races in Singapore. These merch are created by persons with mental health conditions, those in recovery, and disadvantaged women, and are the perfect accessories to complete your matching squad goals with your multiracial friends.
How to order: Send an email with the product code to sales@sacs.org.sg
Contact: Email sales@sacs.org.sg
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Every person has the potential to achieve their personal dreams and share joy to with their family and community. Explore the BLOOM collection by The Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS) that aims to inspire women and strengthen families through accessories designed with love, such as pastel satin shawls and classy leather clutch bags. With these practical items as gifts to your loved ones, it will undoubtedly make your heart bloom too.
How to order: Fill in the order form on the website
Contact: Fill in the contact form on the website
Website | Facebook | Instagram
All of the featured retail options are managed by social service agencies that are supported by Community Chest. Besides those mentioned in the list, they also support over 41,000 children with special needs, youth at risk, adults with disabilities, and persons with mental health conditions. With how they passionately help those who are in need, you could say that they’re akin to Singapore’s version of the Avengers HQ.
Through supporting their causes, you can contribute to being a mini Superhero yourself too. Community Chest aims to raise over $50 million to support more than 100 social service agencies and 200 critical programmes every year.
Fun fact: service users, employed by these retail outlets, are also given equal working opportunities and empowered to live a life with dignity.
While we get along with our daily lives, it’s also important to remember those who need our support the most. Especially for individuals who believe that the world can be a better place, or even feel that they have the power to uplift the lives of those who need support.
If you can relate to these thoughts and want to get involved, Community Chest’s latest campaign “We Are The Generation” is looking for the younger generation who are not afraid to show their conviction to do good for the society and the communities-in-need.
The next time you’re heading to mainstream retail and food & beverage outlets, why not support these places in Singapore that give back to the community while you do good? They are conveniently located within the heartlands or easily accessible online with just a simple click away.
Be part of the generation today that come together to show care and support to build a more caring and inclusive society. With Community Chest, doing something small for a change can certainly go a long way.
This post was brought to you by Community Chest.
Cover: Source, image courtesy of ASPN, source
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