This year’s Singapore Kindness Movement campaign encourages fast food diners to clear their trays. How do CHC members measure up?
The Singapore Kindness Movement launched its 2010 campaign on Jan. 15. The mission: To inculcate in fast food diners the habit of clearing their trays after meals.
On Jan. 14 at at the ARTrium, MICA Building, the Singapore Kindness Movement unveiled attractive table decals, tray station stickers or tray station tent cards prompting diners to do their part in the “Clear Up Before You Go—Because You Are Kind That Way” campaign.
This is a collaboration between SKM and six local fast food operators namely KFC, Long John Silver’s, McDonalds, MOS Burger, Subway and Superdog. The event was officiated by Sam Tan, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts and Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Said Tan: “[Being gracious] is not alien to all of us, as students have been taught to clear their plates and cutlery after use, and NS men are taught to clear their food trays. [This campaign] serves to remind us to be gracious to one another, at the same time showing Singapore to be a country filled with warm and gracious people, thus enhancing Singapore’s national stage with the coming 2010 Youth Olympic Games.”
As a sign of leading by example, the representatives from the fast food companies were invited on stage to carry a food tray and clear them, thus officially launching the campaign. The campaign mascot Singa was also there to “lend support” to the group.
Lim Kim Seng, General Manager of MOS Burger said, “I feel that this [campaign] is a good idea. Somebody has to start first to promote graciousness. Yes, I also do clear my food trays after food. As MOS Burger is a Japanese company, we have the opportunity to experience the culture of the Japanese—they always clear up their food trays so that the next person can have a pleasant time at the eatery. Hopefully, the awareness created by this campaign can create a domino effect, inspiring young and old to be more gracious by helping to keep tables clean after they’re done eating.”
Teh Thien Yew, General Manager of SKM tells City News that “our goal for the first of five phases is to spread the awareness that such a campaign exists, and perhaps inspire Singaporeans to be more gracious by clearing up their food trays after meals. The benefit that customers get is the satisfaction that they have helped provide the next customer with a great experience at the fast food outlet.”
This campaign aims to communicate that demonstrating graciousness to one another doesn’t cost anything, but it can bring about better experiences and a consciousness of kindness.
Do CHCers Clear Their Trays?
City News decided to see how aware our churchgoers are of the campaign, and if they already have a habit of clearing after themselves. The City News crew parked itself one recent weekend at Subway at Singapore Expo, which is a participating outlet, to watch City Harvest members in action.
 |
Accountant Joyce Ho Xiu Ping, from cell group N429, said, “I personally don’t have a habit of clearing my tray but I believe that this campaign is very relevant. It also gives foreigners a better image of us when they come to Singapore, especially since we have so many international events happening here. We should spare a thought for others.” |
 |
For Tan Rui Xiang, 23, a full-time student from cell group W302, this campaign matches his values. “I believe this is a basic social responsibility for all of us to want to provide a conducive eating environment for the next user. In fact we should extend this graciousness to public toilets, and leave the toilet seat clean for the next user.” |
 |
Faith Huang Ziling (center), 19, full-time student from cell group E378 notes that “It is only basic courtesy to clear our food trays after dining in the first place. If you don’t want to start a meal with someone else’s leftovers, you shouldn’t leave your leftovers behind!” |
| CN PHOTO: Eugene Tay |
