Bringing affordable and convenient meals to alleviate cost-of-living pressures for North West residents

A first for the District, North West Community Development Council (CDC) will launch Ready Meals @ North West offering affordable and convenient meals at $3 and below to North West residents. This programme comes at a time when cost-of-living pressures is weighing on many households, and signalling on-the-ground response to keeping everyday essentials within reach for all residents. The launch will be held at Block 106B Canberra Street on 30 May 2026, with Guest-of-Honour, Mr Ong Ye Kung, Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Minister for Health, and Adviser to Sembawang GRC GROs and Host, Mr Alex Yam, Mayor of North West District, as well as 70 residents from Sembawang Central.

 2  Sharing on how the CDC’s initiatives complement national policies, Minister Ong Ye Kung says “This programme will see 100 vending machines being deployed across the entire North West District. The food is convenient, accessible and affordable, thanks to the support of our donors. This meaningful initiative by North West CDC will complement various Government support measures to help Singaporeans manage the current economic uncertainties and cope with day-to-day expenses.”

 3  To further extend the programme’s impact, Select Group has pledged $600,000 worth of credits as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, enabling identified low-income households to redeem meals for free through a dedicated credit system. This programme is a value addition to the CDC’s ecosystem of support, complementing existing schemes such as Project Sama Sama @ North West, North West Food Aid Fund and North West Service Weeks. Mr Alex Yam, Mayor of North West District says, “North West CDC will continue to bring together partners and resources to maximise support for residents. These vending machines are part of the effort in ensuring all residents can access affordable and convenient meals whenever they need to.”

 4   In the first phase, the programme will launch with 14 vending machines deployed across 14 North West Divisions within proximity of public rental blocks first, bringing this cost-of-living initiative directly to the low-income residents in our community with sustained 24/7 support. By the fourth quarter of 2026, the programme will see a progressive rollout of up to 100 vending machines across all 20 Divisions in the North West. Operating 24 hours a day, these machines ensure that every resident has round-the-clock access to affordable food options, reinforcing the CDC’s commitment to building a Caring and Healthy North West Community.