On a humid Sunday morning, I, along with more than 20 others, took part in Feed the Kampung: A Fridge Run, a community grocery run organised by Give.Asia. The aim was simple: to help stock the community fridge in Lengkok Bahru by purchasing and delivering essential groceries ourselves.
This wasn’t your typical charity donation. Each team was given a shopping list, a minimum goal to visit at least three stores and buy at least five items, along with a shared sense of urgency to finish within two hours. And we ran with it. Literally.
My team consisted of myself and three others from the netball community: national netballer K. Mishalenee, along with her club teammates Syntyche Yeo and Shannon Tan. We visited the supermarkets and ended up carrying over S$110 worth of groceries, weighing 32 kilograms. We packed our bags and carried staples like rice, eggs, oyster sauce, coconut milk, and salt – small items that go a long way in someone’s kitchen.
The Bigger Picture
This run is part of a larger effort inspired by everyday heroes like Kak Marlina, a resident of Lengkok Bahru. Since May 2023, she’s been quietly stocking her block’s community fridge, week after week, with groceries she buys, collects, or receives through donations. From eggs to Indomie, she does her best to ensure her neighbours never go hungry.
Since December 2024, Give.Asia has been supporting grassroots efforts like hers. To sustain the momentum, they have collaborated with local runners and volunteers, such as Ramesh Retnam and the Run Alone Running Club, to provide a more hands-on approach to giving.
Following the run, Retnam, better known as the Bald Man in the running community, said, “Giving back doesn’t always mean donating. Sometimes it’s about showing up, with your feet, with your heart, with your people. With my larger community.
“We run not just for pace, but with purpose. Because even in modern Singapore, some wallets are empty. Some fridges are bare. Some stomachs are hungry. And no one in our kampung should be left behind. I give back because I remember when this was me. To feed someone in need is a blessing.”
I had fun running alongside national player Mishalenee, who brought both heart and humour to the morning. After the run, she said, “Honestly, I had a lot of fun, and it felt good knowing it was for a meaningful cause. Sometimes, small actions like this can go a long way.”
Gena Soh, the community builder at Give.Asia, where she oversees the GiveBack programme, shared: “At Give.Asia, we want volunteering in Singapore to be fun, social, and accessible. Our vision is simple: if you have a hobby or interest, you should be able to use it to give back.”
“Donating is important, but putting your body into the effort makes the impact real. These are the kinds of moments we want to keep creating, so more people can take that first step, and discover how giving back can be meaningful and fun.”
The Impact
Across all teams, we collectively carried over 129 kilograms of groceries, worth approximately S$560. Every item went directly to the community fridge, where it was sorted and made available to families in need.
It was a simple idea, but the impact was real, and we’re glad to have been a part of it.
What You Can Do
This run may be done, but the mission isn’t.
Give.Asia plans to organise a social-good run every few months, building on the momentum of events like this and the Beer Mile for Mental Health, which raised over $2,000 and drew more than 50 participants. These activations serve as a reminder that running can be more than just medals or miles; it can also be about giving back to the community.
If you’d like to join future Kampung Runs, or if you have an idea for a social-good collaboration, follow @give.asia on Instagram or reach out to the team (
gena@give.asia). Whether you walk, run, donate, or co-create an initiative, every bit adds up, and no one in our kampung should be left behind.
