“A Festival of Lights, A Celebration of Hopes” brings essential food assistance to single-mother families, with a second phase reaching three zones in collaboration with DUN Sri Setia.
More than 50 households are set to benefit from Lincoln University College’s (LUC) inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, “A Festival of Lights, A Celebration of Hopes”, a two-phase community outreach programme bringing essential food assistance, festive cheer and renewed hope to families in need. Inspired by the spirit of Deepavali, the initiative reflects the University’s commitment to extending compassion beyond the classroom and making a meaningful difference in the lives of underserved communities.
The initiative commenced yesterday with the distribution of essential food baskets to 10 single-mother households, in collaboration with Single Parent Association, marking the first phase of the University’s efforts to extend care and support to families facing financial challenges.
Each food basket contains everyday necessities, including rice, flour, Maggi instant noodles, condensed milk and sugar, offering practical assistance to families managing their daily household needs.
Among the beneficiaries was Thamaiendi a/p Rajoo, a single mother living with a mobility disability (OKU), who depends on her daughter’s income to make ends meet. For Thamaiendi and her daughter, managing everyday household expenses can be challenging, making gestures of kindness and community support all the more meaningful.
“With the rising cost of living, managing household expenses can be challenging. Receiving these essential items helps ease some of our daily worries. More importantly, it is comforting to know that there are people who care about families like ours,” shared Thamaiendi, expressing her heartfelt appreciation for the assistance.
Another recipient, Umadevi a/p Balakrishnan, expressed her appreciation, “Sometimes, even a small gesture can mean so much to a family. This food basket will help us with our daily needs and knowing that we have not been forgotten makes this festive season feel more meaningful”.
Umadevi a/p Balakrishnan receives a food basket containing essential household necessities during the first phase of Lincoln University College’s inaugural CSR initiative, “A Festival of Lights, A Celebration of Hopes”, which aims to support over 50 households through a two-phase community outreach programme
Building on the first phase, Lincoln University College will expand its community outreach from 19 to 21 November 2026, working in collaboration with DUN Sri Setia to distribute food baskets across three different zones within the constituency.
Through this partnership, the University aims to extend its reach to more households, ensuring that essential assistance is channelled to communities that would benefit from additional support. The collaboration also underscores the importance of bringing together educational institutions and local community representatives to address grassroots needs through collective action.
Prof. Dr. Amiya Bhaumik, Founder and President of Lincoln University College, emphasised the importance of extending the spirit of celebration beyond festivities and into meaningful action. “The true spirit of the Festival of Lights lies not only in the celebrations we share, but in the hope we bring to others. At Lincoln University College, we believe that education carries a responsibility beyond the classroom — to nurture compassion, strengthen communities and uplift lives. Through this inaugural initiative, we hope to remind every family we reach that they are not alone and that even a simple act of kindness can make a meaningful difference,” he shared.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the initiative contributes to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through essential food assistance, SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by recognising and supporting the needs of single mothers and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration with community organisations.
More than a festive outreach programme, “A Festival of Lights, A Celebration of Hopes” represents the beginning of Lincoln University College’s commitment to building a culture of compassion, community engagement and shared responsibility. Guided by its philosophy of “Learn. Transform. Belong.”, the University hopes to inspire its students, staff and wider community to embrace the spirit of giving and become active contributors to a more caring and inclusive society.