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The charity CEO shares more about his passion for making a difference, what inspires him, and what his typical day is like
With the prices of food, transport, and electricity constantly on the rise in Singapore, it’s not a surprise that we are living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. While for some of us inflation might simply mean having to cut down on the frequency of our cab rides or dining out, for others, it might not be that easy.
Fortunately, various homegrown charities are helping to alleviate the burden of these individuals—one of which is Food from the Heart (FFTH). Since 2003, this independent non-profit organisation has been devoted to helping the less fortunate through its food distribution programmes and community-based initiatives, like the bread run.
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One of its most prominent initiatives, the bread run collects edible unsold bread from bakeries and hotels, redistributing them to the community. Not only does the initiative help feed those in need, but it also helps to reduce the wastage of food in the retail sector.
Currently, the charity serves over 62,000 beneficiaries with monthly food support while also making positive impact on food waste reduction.
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When it comes to helping lower-income individuals and families, CEO of the independent food charity, Robin Lee, is determined to help.
“When I first joined Food from the Heart at the beginning of 2022, our food donations had dropped quite drastically due to the continuous challenges brought forth by the then-evolving Covid-19 situation and the rapid price inflation of food due to geopolitical conflicts. The warehouse was practically empty, with shelves unfilled.
“I jumped straight into leading my team to kickstart conversations with our supporters, existing and new. When our warehouse started to fill up with in-kind donations by corporations and the public, for the very first time, I experienced a warm tingling sensation in my heart. The community spirit still flies high in Singapore to help those in need,” Lee shares.
While Lee only joined in 2022, he has been dedicated to serving the community for over 30 years. In fact, over the years, Lee has been a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors for six years and vice chairman of the school advisory committee in Bukit View Primary School for two decades.
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When asked why he decided to join Food from the Heart, Lee recounts that as he had spent his early career travelling for work, he was not able to bond with his family as much as he had hoped. Lee explains, “When I hit 55, I decided that I wanted to spend more time with my family and friends to make up for lost time. So, when an opportunity at FFTH surfaced, it was inviting”.
Below, Lee shares how he balances his time between his family and serving the community.
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What is a typical morning like for you?
Robin Lee (RL): My morning routine is a ritual on most days. My alarm goes off at 5.45 am each day. At 5.55 am, the alarm will go off again and this time, I will bounce off my bed. Why 5.55 am? In Thai language, 5-5-5 means “ha ha ha”, the joyous sound of laughter, and that’s how I want to start each day. After freshening up, I will do some simple stretching followed by a 15-minute meditation focusing on gratitude and body scanning. This is the time I remind myself each day how wonderfully blessed I am.
What do you usually have for breakfast?
RL: On a workday morning, I only make myself a triple espresso and no breakfast. On weekends and public holidays, I will have a simple breakfast of bread and eggs to fuel up for mountain biking, a run, or hike.
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What does a standard work day look like for you?
RL: I am usually the first person to arrive at the Food from the Heart (FFTH) office around 7.30 am. I love the bright and early feeling as I walk through our charity’s warehouse to see that everything is in order, and we have enough food for the beneficiaries we serve.
Most of my staff come in at 9 am, giving me more than an hour to clear all my emails and to-do-list before staff start popping their heads into my room.
At 9.30 am, the first two groups of individual and corporate volunteers come in and I enjoy meeting them as they will come with a great positive spirit and joy knowing that they are going to spend meaningful time helping others.
For the rest of the day, I spend time with my teams addressing the daily operational issues and challenges of running our food distribution programmes, fundraising, marketing, logistics, partnerships, and volunteer management.
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How do you achieve a work-life balance? How do you set boundaries?
RL: Work-life balance is a very important aspect of a healthy work environment and for mental wellness; I’m all for it for myself and my team. It takes good planning, time management and discipline to complete work on time and to craft out personal time. For any good business and operation, processes and contingency plans must be in place to handle urgent matters and emergencies. With that in place, when I am having my “me” time, especially when I am meditating, working out, or sleeping, I totally disconnect with the external world by detaching from my mobile devices and be 100 per cent focused on my present moment.
How do you chase your dreams?
RL: I am quite a practical person. I don’t really set dreams that are out of reach. Also, I strive to be in the present moment instead of chasing the future.
How do you deal with your shortcomings?
RL: Mindfulness is how I deal with most things, including my shortcomings. I start by acknowledging it, then examining why it is an issue, its cause, and how it can be avoided. If it is not preventable, then it can be rectified later? If all fails, live with it!
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What is one item that has changed your life for the better?
RL: Close contact with disadvantaged communities makes me see the vulnerability of life and how one should be grateful for all that we have.
What would you consider your greatest accomplishment to date?
RL: I am very contented and grateful for everything that I have done. This ability to appreciate my life and state of mind I believe is my greatest accomplishment.
What would you still like to accomplish?
RL: Live life to the fullest, do my best for the beneficiaries I serve, and spend more quality time with my loved ones.
What is the last thing you do before you go to bed?
RL: I practice gratitude meditation for 15 minutes to wrap up my day.
Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.
