CABBIES DELIVER OVER 51,000 LOAVES OF BREAD TO THE NEEDY
1 June 2006 – More than 51,000 loaves of bread – enough to feed 150 people every day for a
whole year – will have been delivered to the poor and needy by ComfortDelGro cabbies by January
next year.
The delivery service, which started in 2003, is part of a series of community efforts by cabbies from
CabbyCare Charity Group, an independent volunteer group formed by ComfortDelGro cabbies. In
all, 23 ComfortDelGro cabbies will be taking turns to deliver unsold bread to eight non-profit
organisations as part of Food from the Heart’s (FFTH) ‘Bread-on-Wheels’ programme.
As a show of support, one of ComfortDelGro’s taxi companies, CityCab, has pledged $15,600 as
fares-in-lieu of the two-hour trips the cabbies will be making. But the cabbies have instead opted to
re-channel the money to their charity fund. Said Cabby Toh San Kuan who will forfeit nearly $400
in fares in a year: “I don’t mind forfeiting the fares so long as the money is able to help the less
fortunate. I can easily put in more time to earn the fares back.”
Mr Yang Ban Seng, Chief Executive Officer of ComfortDelGro’s Taxi Business, said: “It’s amazing
that despite high fuel prices, these cabbies are willing to sacrifice fares for a charitable cause they
believe in.”
Touched by the cabbies’ philanthropic spirit, Mrs Christine Laimer, Founder of FFTH, said: “The
support provided by these cabbies is vital to FFTH. They are plying delivery routes which take up
more time than the regular delivery by other bread run volunteers. Yet, they are willing to sacrifice
their fares. The fact that cabbies are not among top earners have made their sacrifice even
greater.”
The eight non-profit organisations benefiting from CabbyCare’s deliveries are North East CDCMetta Student Care Centre, South East-Yu Neng-Metta Student Care Centre, Windsor Nursing
Home, Moral Home for the Aged Sick, Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens, MINDS Tampines
Home, St John's Home for Elderly Persons and Villa Francis Home for the Aged.
ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited
205 Braddell Road Singapore 579701
www.comfortdelgro.com
Co. Registration No.: 200300002K
About ComfortDelGro
ComfortDelGro is the world’s second largest land transport company with a total fleet size of
39,150 buses, taxis and rental vehicles. Headquartered in Singapore, the Group also has
operations in China, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Vietnam and Malaysia. Currently
overseas ventures account for 40% of Group revenue. The Group intends to derive half of its total
revenue from abroad in the next three to five years.
About CabbyCare Charity Group
CabbyCare Charity Group, formerly known as CityCare Charity Group, was initiated and formed in
February 2000 by eight cabbies who wanted to help the needy. It now has over 210 members
made up mainly by CityCab cabbies.
In recognition of its dedication towards charity work,
CabbyCare was given the Outstanding New Volunteerism Initiative Award by the National
Volunteer Centre in November 2002 and the President’s Service Social Award in August 2003.
About Food From The Heart
Food from the Heart (FFTH) collects and delivers unsold bread from 115 bakeries islandwide with
the help of 2,000 volunteers. Every month, 95 welfare homes and more than 2,000 needy
individuals in 15 distribution centers receive not only bread, but also food goodie bags containing
basic non perishable food items. FFTH is currently working with neighbourhood schools and
Residential Committees to reach out to more needy families.