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FairPrice donates $20k, hampers to needy Muslim families

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FairPrice's charity has donated $20,000 and 100 hampers to self-help group Yayasan Mendaki to assist low-income families in the Muslim community with school-related fees and groceries.

The supermarket chain will also provide refreshments at its stores for Muslims to break fast during Ramadan from today to May 12 and has expanded its range of halal-certified products by almost 1,500 items.

At the FairPrice store at Woodlands Civic Centre yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, who is also Mendaki deputy chairman, said: "I'm thankful FairPrice has been a strong partner of Mendaki.

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"I'm heartened by their donation as it will benefit many of our low-income students and their families, especially during Ramadan when we also want to ensure households get good nutrition."

The hampers donated by FairPrice Foundation include daily necessities like rice, oil and noodles.

The $20,000 will be used for bursaries, subsidies for school fees and other academic initiatives.

With this year's donation, the foundation has contributed more than $360,000 to Yayasan Mendaki over the past seven years.

FairPrice group chief executive officer Seah Kian Peng said: "As our Muslim customers observe Ramadan, we continue to show our consideration by providing dates and refreshments at our stores to help them break their fast.

"Ramadan is a time of doing good, and we are privileged to provide social support for those in need."

The refreshments can be collected from 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after the time of breaking fast at 60 FairPrice stores, up from 58 stores last year.

FairPrice added about 1,500 new halal-certified products to its existing range of 5,700 halal items. The new products include groceries from countries such as Brazil, Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia.

There are "halal corners" as well selling hot delicatessen products at 26 FairPrice outlets. 

This article first appeared in The Straits Times.

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