SINGAPORE: A community fridge set up at a Tampines HDB block to encourage food donations and support residents in need has become the subject of controversy, following reports that several elderly women have been taking excessive amounts of food.
The community fridge was first introduced in 2017 by Tampines North grassroots organisations and the community club at Block 441, Tampines Street 43.
The initiative was designed to allow residents to donate fresh food, supporting families in need while fostering mutual help among neighbours.
However, complaints have persisted over the years that some individuals were overusing the facility.
According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, the problem escalated last year after the original fridge was replaced with a glass-door freezer, which made its contents more visible.
Elderly Women Reportedly Seen Taking Food Daily
Residents said several women in their 60s were frequently spotted loitering near the freezer and would swiftly empty it whenever food was placed inside.
Some were also alleged to have approached donors directly, asking for food before it was placed into the fridge.
During a visit by a Zaobao reporter on 22 July at around 8am, two freezers – one for halal food and another for non-halal food – were found completely empty.
Resident Munawwar (40) said the women were known regulars and often took the bulk of the donations.
He added that their behaviour appeared to have toned down after recent media reports and viral videos drew public attention.
But he noted that the situation had discouraged some donors.
“In the past, kindergartens even organised children to bring food donations to the fridge to nurture compassion, but that has since stopped,” he said.
Currently, most donations come from staff at a nearby supermarket and suppliers at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, who contribute weekly.
Together with his neighbour Huang, Munawwar has volunteered to help monitor the freezers.
Huang has been assisting for two to three years by clearing expired food and cleaning the units.
Munawwar admitted that it has been challenging without official authority or clear rules on who can take food and how much.
Attempts to intervene often led to disputes with the women, and some residents even mistook him as one of those waiting for food.
Elderly Women Defend Themselves
When approached, some of the elderly women defended their actions.
Madam Lee (68), a retiree, said she was collecting food not only for herself but also for other elderly residents who lived alone and faced mobility challenges.
“Sometimes people think I’m taking a lot, but actually I’m giving it to others in need, not just for myself,” she said.
Another retiree, Madam Wu (67), admitted that she rushed to take food whenever supermarket staff replenished the fridge, arguing that if she was not quick, she would end up with nothing.
“Besides, the food will spoil if left in there for too long. I’ll take it home and share it with my daughters, so there’s no waste,” she explained.
MP Acknowledges Issues, Exploring Solutions
Tampines GRC MP David Neo said the original purpose of the community fridge was to reduce food waste while supporting rental flat residents and encouraging a culture of sharing.
He noted that the fridge was designed to be freely accessible, as manpower to manage it was limited.
While concerns had been raised, observations showed that much of the food was eventually redistributed, reducing waste.
Discussions are ongoing with residents such as Munawwar to explore ways of improving the initiative’s operations.
“As long as there are people in the community willing to contribute and support those in need, the long-term sustainability of this programme can be secured,” Neo said.
Similar community fridges exist in Yishun, Punggol and Bedok.
In Bedok, Minister of State for Manpower and East Coast GRC MP Dinesh Vasu Dash, explained that the system involves volunteers from the Residents’ Network collecting produce from the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre before distributing it directly to residents at the fridge location.
Each person is limited to two bags, and CCTV cameras have been installed to deter abuse.
He noted that this structure has helped reduce cases of overuse.
Online Reactions
The controversy has also sparked online discussion. On Reddit, many netizens criticised the elderly women’s actions.
Some suggested stricter controls, such as requiring volunteers to personally distribute food, setting up a registration system, or collecting data on households truly in need.
One user proposed requiring residents to scan their NRICs to access the fridge, arguing that such a system would help ensure fairness and accountability.
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