The North West Community Development Council (CDC) held its first Cantribute at North West programme, which is intended to help needy families in such neighbourhoods as Buona Vista, Marsiling and Sembawang.

For its inaugural drive, the CDC recruited 100 Primary 6 pupils from Yishun Primary School, who filled food rations at a supermarket in Woodlands on Monday. The children, who had 30 minutes to gather staples such as canned sardines and noodles, learned to help the less privileged. This forms part of the Council's initiative to educate and engage the young in providing social assistance to the community's less fortunate members.

The project is intended to raise money for the North West Food Aid Fund, while also encouraging volunteerism in the community.

Dr. Teo Ho Pin, North West District's Mayor, said: "This Cantribute is one of the initiatives by the students. So we would like to continue this Cantribute project on a yearly basis so as to reach out to more students, to let them understand the value of caring and giving".

The CDC needs $500,000 per year to assist in feeding 700 families per month. If the Council can manage to collect 25,000 cans of food from the public, the Lee Foundation will donate the $50,000. This money can then be used to purchase more food from the Shen Siong Supermarket, which offers the Council a discounted rate.

Contributions are very welcome. The CDC asks for halal canned food, including baked beans, mushrooms and sardines.