"Chope food for the needy" by buying them a hawker meal

If you are buying yourself a meal, you can also help someone needy get his fill.

In the Singaporean version of the suspended coffee movement which has taken Europe and the United States by storm, people give extra cash to hawkers to reserve food for someone who cannot afford to pay their own.

Chope Food for the Needy, which was launched on Facebook on Tuesday by Singaporean Michelle Tan, has already been "liked" more than 2,400 times.

Ms Tan said she adapted the movement to suit Singapore. For instance, instead of approaching a coffee joint for a $5 latte, which can be intimidating for needy folk, Chope's concept revolves around the donor handing a hawker cash for a meal-in-advance. The hawker will then pick an appropriate recipient.

"Many needy folk are too dignified to appeal for food and you do not want people inundating the well-intentioned hawkers with demands for free food," said Ms Tan.

Donor Ms Dora Yip, 37, who gave $10 to her "favourite kopi aunty" at Telok Blangah Kopitiam yesterday, said hawkers have a clearer understanding of who may need help the most in the estate. "I trust her to give the free beverages to the right people," said Ms Yip, a communications consultant.

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