Around 2,500 blankets were given by members of the public, in response to an urgent donation drive called by Relief Singapore over this past weekend (November 11 and 12).

The blankets, which the organisers estimated had a total volumetric weight of 5.3 tonnes, will be sent to the Gaza Strip to help those affected by the Israel-Hamas war. Winter temperatures in the region can fall as low as 13ºC.

Relief Singapore will work with the military and other humanitarian organisations, including Mercy Relief, to deliver the blankets to the affected areas.

Organisers estimate that the blankets donated over the weekend had a total volumetric weight of 5.3 tonnes.

The donation centre of Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church – which also served as the site for a previous Relief Singapore collection effort for the victims of the Syria-Turkey earthquake in February – stayed open throughout the weekend to receive blankets.

By all means possible

Members of the public brought the blankets in via car and on foot. Some even used wheelchairs and baby prams to deliver the items.

A few made such large orders to retail shops that entire vans and lorries came in stacked with blankets.

Members of the public brought the blankets in all sorts of ways, and large quantities were even delivered by retail store trucks.

Said Mr Jonathan How, Director of Relief Singapore: “We hope the affected persons in the Gaza Strip will keep warm with the blankets provided, and more importantly, they will receive them from distribution partners on the ground before the winter nights get even colder.

“The needs are wide-ranging and immense. RSG will standby to send more help as best as we can.”

Relief Singapore is a homegrown NGO that provides healthcare, clean water, education, psychosocial support and other forms of humanitarian assistance for those forcibly displaced and affected by conflicts, calamities and climate change.

The organisation’s mandate is to focus on humanitarian needs that are under-served and neglected, and render help regardless of race, religion, or political convictions. 

Shared burden

Calling the response “remarkable”, Ms Shirley Cheong, a Relief Singapore volunteer who was at the donation centre on both days, said: “It was incredibly heartwarming to see volunteers and donors from different ages, faiths and walks of life rallying together at such short notice.

“The show of support from individuals and local communities show the collective power of small actions in making a big difference.” 

“We saw donors, volunteers, and humanitarian partners giving selflessly of their resources and time,” said Relief Singapore Director Jonathan How.

Mr Vernon Martin, Asia Commercial Head at Aramex, which provided the local logistics support for the project, also was touched “to see many people from various ethnicities coming together to organise the blanket donation drive and donate blankets generously, with winter approaching in Gaza”.

Affirming Aramex’s commitment, he said: “We will continue to standby to meet the pressing humanitarian needs for those affected in the Gaza Strip, and to support efforts to care and love people when the need arises.

“Our hope and prayer is for a quick resolution to the war.”

Double-quick action

Said BBTC Deputy Senior Pastor Edric Sng: “The amount collected is amazing given the very short notice. The church was only approached to be the donation centre on Friday afternoon (November 10), and the call for donations only went out that Friday evening.

Almost 50 volunteers of all ages and religions participated in the donation drive.

Working tirelessly, they “gave sacrificially to show love to those in need”, said BBTC Deputy Senior Pastor Edric Sng.

“Despite that, we saw a consistent flow of donors throughout the weekend, and almost 50 volunteers of all ages and religions.

“Many rescheduled their plans, or gave sacrificially to show love to those in need. Faith is always marked by love and good deeds.”

Echoing the sentiment, BBTC thanked church members who were involved in the donation drive, whether as volunteers or donors, for “living out the Word of God” as per ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬, which says: “And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.”

Stepping up

Added Mr How: “Truly, it was a living out of our mantra ‘From Singapore With Love’ over this past weekend, as we saw donors, volunteers, and humanitarian partners giving selflessly of their resources and time.

“In a way, this is like a rehearsal for things to come.

“Not that we want more crises to happen in future, but we know they surely will, in the months and years ahead.

“We trust the Singapore public will step up once again when the call goes out to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”

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