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As Mariah Carey fills the air and the average salaryman mentally tabulates what their year-end bonus would be, something else makes its annual appearance: Charity volunteers ringing bells asking for donations to their causes.

If the throngs of people dropping change into the buckets are anything to go by, there’s definitely something about the season of giving that inspires generosity and empathy in us. But is there anything else we can give apart from cold, hard cash?

Despite the challenges businesses are facing, it is heartening to see them working hard to give back amidst COVID-19.

While classes have been suspended, their care for the children continues. The team from Glyph has been performing house visits to distribute bread to some of the children and their families, while practising safe distancing. They are also looking into trying out video calls so they can check in on more families, to ensure they are keeping well.

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To some kids and parents, Si Hui and the folks at Glyph are more than a helping hand. They’re like family, supporting communities with an open mind.

We know your anxiety, your uncertainties, your worries during this COVID-19 crisis. We heard you. Glyph has requested for a 1-on-1 interview with the Ministry of Social & Family Development, for Minister Desmond Lee to address our community's concerns as well as to reassure the Singaporean population at large on how we are tackling this crisis, together.

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The increased social awareness in our society right now is humbling, albeit overdue. We’re now learning more about the social inequalities various communities face within their everyday lives.

We now realise the privileges some of us have, that some others may not. And that’s wonderful. It’s a sign of growth and understanding that comes with living in such a diverse society. In fact, these epiphanies have even birthed initiatives and organisations that want to facilitate this process of growth, and we’re all for it.

Families in Jalan Besar now have access to affordable enrichment activities for children at a centre launched on Friday

A family has resorted to begging for just-expired food and drinks from the convenience store, and another's application to renew their financial assistance has been delayed for over a month, which has caused distress to the parents of five children.

These are just some issues that the team at Glyph, an investment-backed social enterprise, has faced over the past few months ever since the introduction of the circuit breaker measures - to stem the spread of Covid-19 - on April 7.