As 2021 draws to a close, here at GraciousMart, we reflect on the past events and happenings this year and what we aspire to achieve in 2022.
Alhamdulillah, we managed to distribute more than 1000 fidyah and ihsan packages to various organisations and fidyah recipients since our launch in February. It was only due to your kind contributions and support that we are able to provide these food packages to the poor and needy. Our staffs along with dedicated volunteers personally went down to these houses to deliver to ensure they receive food right at their doorsteps. With Covid-19 severely impacting the livelihood of many people, these packages have greatly helped to reduce their daily costs and at the same time, ensuring their families have sufficient food on the table. We could not have done it without your contribution and help!
In 2022, as food prices are expected to increase for basic necessities such as cooking oil, vegetables and fruits and staples including rice, we foresee that more people will be struggling to buy their groceries. This is further exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19 still having a foothold in the global markets therefore causing more unemployment and loss of incomes. As reported in Al Jazeera (“As COVID-19 rages, more in Singapore go hungry”, Nov 2021), Singapore can expect to see a surge in the number of people requesting food aid from foodbanks and national agencies.
At graciousmart.sg, we have encountered several cases of families requesting for food packages as they have not had a meal for several days. These are identified by our partner organisations which are then directed to us for such assistance. We are cognizant of this current situation and as a social enterprise, our motto is to support as many families as we are able to. At the same time, we are working with several organisations who purchase coupons for their beneficiaries to choose items that they need and want – as opposed to providing food packages, leaving them little choice. We believe in empowering beneficiaries to make their own food choices even in difficult times like this.
graciousmart.sg intends to work closely with more organisations and provide outreach to their beneficiaries this year. It is also with your help and contribution to support our social initiative to provide food to the vulnerable segments of the society. As mentioned in the holy Quran,
“The righteous are those who give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive, saying to themselves, we feed you for the sake of Allah” (Al-Insan: 8-9).
