“Everyday Guardians” Care Packs Distributed to COVID-19 Frontliners Under Home Team Volunteer Network Initiative

1.     More than 20,000 “Everyday Guardians” care packs were prepared in May 2020 for distribution to frontline officers involved in managing the COVID-19 situation from the Home Team, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the Ministry of Manpower, the Singapore Armed Forces, the National Parks Board and the Migrant Workers’ Centre.

2.     This is an initiative of the Home Team Volunteer Network (HTVN) to show support and appreciation to frontliners. The care packs were packed by more than 200 Home Team volunteers who collected the items for packing at home, so as to observe safe distancing measures.

3.     The HTVN was formed in 2011 to provide a common platform to bring the volunteers in the various volunteer schemes managed by the Home Team Departments together, to better contribute to the safety and security of Singapore. The HTVN comprises 12 volunteer schemes with volunteering opportunities available for various age groups. Home Team volunteers come from all walks of life and hold diverse roles, ranging from volunteering in frontline roles to contributing their expertise in advisory boards. They are involved in a wide range of areas, including frontline policing and emergency response, fire safety, crime prevention, preventive drug education outreach, as well as befriending ex-offenders.

4.     Various sponsors, including those from the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA), the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI), Singapore Airlines (SIA), Temasek Foundation and community project Masks Sewn with Love, contributed items to the “Everyday Guardians” care packs. The items include disposable and reusable face masks, hand sanitiser, hand cream and wet wipes, and were packed into an SIA travel pouch. Each care pack also carried a message of appreciation from the HTVN to the frontliners. Staff from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) organised the delivery of the individual items from the sponsors to MHA, made arrangements for the HTVN volunteers to pick up the items and return the packed care packs, and the distribution to the frontline agencies.

5.     “Our frontliners play a crucial role in our nation’s battle against COVID-19, working tirelessly to keep our homes and communities safe. This is going to be a marathon battle, so the support of our frontliners’ families is also critical. This “Everyday Guardians” care pack is a symbol of our gratitude to our frontliners and their families for their dedication and sacrifice. I am grateful to our donor partners and Home Team volunteers who have stepped forward to support this initiative. It is a small gesture on our part, but it reminds us that we are all in this together. Everyone can contribute to fight COVID-19. I am confident that as long as we stay united and continue to look out for one another, we will overcome this pandemic, and emerge even stronger as a community,” said Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, who spearheaded this initiative.

Annex (832 kb, .pdf)