President tours experiential showcase and presents SRC Awards to outstanding recipients at Red Cross House

President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Patron of the Singapore Red Cross (SRC), today toured an experiential exhibition at the local humanitarian organisation’s headquarters at Red Cross House. The exhibition showcased the various community services it offers.

President Tony Tan was the Guest of Honour at the inaugural Singapore Red Cross Awards, where he handed out Awards1 to outstanding volunteers and partners at a ceremony.

During his tour of the exhibition, the President spoke with volunteers and beneficiaries of SRC’s local services such as the Red Cross Home for the Disabled, Singapore’s only residential home for the severely disabled and “Meals with Love”, a newly launched FoodAid programme that provides groceries to disadvantaged families that help them meet their nutritional needs.

“I am happy to see that SRC has redefined its humanitarian services to provide a greater focus on serving the needs of our local community. This allows SRC to stay relevant to the evolving needs in Singapore, and provides more avenues for Singaporeans to participate in its mission and make an impact on our community through volunteering, donations and partnerships,” said the President.

Other services on display included the Blood Donor Recruitment Programme, which reflects SRC’s role as the national blood donor recruiter; First Aider on Wheels, the unique SRC programme where volunteers patrol a stretch of East Coast Park to provide first aid to park visitors who have hurt themselves; and TransportAid, a service that brings the elderly and underprivileged to their life-sustaining medical appointments.

Aside from its work in Singapore, the SRC also plays an important role in enhancing Singapore’s image as a responsible and caring nation. Following disasters in recent years, the SRC has raised funds totalling more than S$150 million. Besides providing immediate and urgent relief supplies, the SRC carefully selects reconstruction projects that have a lasting impact on the affected communities. They also provide a lasting link between Singapore and these communities.