CAPTain Spotlight 7 of 9: Food for Thought

Article written by Mark Ngoh, Angelica Ang, Bryan Goh & Grace Cheong

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented upheaval to the world, and to Singapore, forcing the nation into a period of Circuit Breaker in efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Even as our economy and society reopen, it is evident that the pandemic has brought, and will continue to bring unique challenges to different communities in Singapore.

Although these times have been rife with uncertainty and unknowns for many of us, several CAPTains, both past and present, have gone above and beyond to play their part in making a difference — no matter how big or small — in our community. The Active Community Engagement (ACE) wing in CAPT has launched an initiative, CAPTain Spotlight, to share the stories of these CAPTains. Through this initiative, we curate and share the narratives of nine individuals/groups of CAPTains who have embodied the ACE spirit – actively engaging with the communities in their midst. This is the seventh of our ‘Spotlight’ stories.

CAPTain Spotlight 7: Food for Thought

During the Circuit Breaker period, life momentarily ceased to a halt. The lively cacophony of sounds on the streets that had once been teeming with life was reduced to a minimum, with only the occasional commuter passing by. As Singapore’s food & beverage outlets were opened only for takeaway, the rise of demand for food delivery services was evident as more Singaporeans opted to order their favourite meals and drinks. However, how often do we pause and think about the hard work put in by our food delivery riders? Those who have diligently endeavoured to deliver meals to our doorstep, rain or shine?

Noticing the heightened demand for food delivery services, Yan Ang (Year 2) felt that he could contribute by joining the riders out there to deliver food. He wished to experience and understand some of the day-to-day challenges that riders and food providers commonly face, and learn first-hand how Singaporeans have been faring during the COVID-19 season.

Through the course of his work, Yan Ang realised that being a delivery rider is no easy feat. With both mental and physical fatigue kicking in from the long waiting time and extended distances that he had to travel, finding the motivation to continue working was one huge challenge. Another difficulty he faced was the long waiting time to collect food orders during peak hours (waiting time can go up to 45 minutes at times!).

Upon reflecting on his journey, Yan Ang realised that delivery riders are often under-appreciated. He shared that the number of “thank you’s” he received was heartbreaking. Hence, the next time we have our meals delivered to our doorsteps by hardworking delivery riders, let us remember to show them some appreciation — even a simple word of “thanks” can go a long way to make someone’s day!

Aside from his delivery job, Yan Ang also volunteers with “Hopes in Wheels”, a local initiative aiming to deliver catered lunches and dinners to elderly in rental housing estates on a daily basis. They hope that these meals will support the elderly who may be facing financial difficulties, as well as those who are physically challenged.

When asked about his motivations, Yan Ang shared that with the current COVID-19 situation, it may not be convenient for the elderly to buy their own meals, hence, he felt strongly about helping them to access their daily meals without having to leave the safe haven of their homes. It spurs him on when he sees their happy faces every time he delivers them their meals. To him, this is only a small gesture of kindness, but it never fails to warm his heart knowing that he will always be greeted by their smiles.

“A little kindness goes a long way.” Yan Ang wishes to encourage his fellow CAPTains to embark on and try out any projects, initiatives or efforts of their own; he strongly believes that making the decision to take the first step would definitely be very fulfilling.

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