While you’re busy checking off your naughty and nice lists this Christmas, how about including philanthropic goals to spread some good cheer to those who really need it? With so much tragedy and loss that took place over the past year, it got us thinking about the fragility of life, and how important it is to be a good citizen of the world. And the easiest way to do that is to pay it forward by lending your time and expertise to a good cause.

The best part about helping others is that it can be done on your terms, and in ways that you are comfortable with. It can be as simple as taking your disabled neighbour out to see the festive light-up, volunteering with an old folk’s home or special school, or asking your friends to donate to your favourite charity, instead of giving you gifts.

You could even champion your company’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) programme by sharing thoughtful and practical ways to give back to society. Take Mitsubishi Electric Asia, for example, who organises regular CSR activities to not only help its beneficiaries, but inspire and empower its employees to do good.

Here, Mitsubishi Electric Asia shows us how you can put a smile on the faces of the less fortunate, not just during this season of giving, but all year round.

In a special episode of RenovAID (which debuts on Toggle on January 8, 2020), Mitsubishi Electric Asia staff were on-site to help host Belinda Lee and the crew refresh the home of a needy family located at Teban Gardens. Chores included a top-to-toe cleaning of the entire house, plus assembling and installing new furniture and lighting.

“This initiative is close to our hearts as we take pride in all of our CSR undertakings and it is one of Mitsubishi Electric Asia’s ways of showing that we care and we have not forgotten the less fortunate individuals, especially with the Christmas just around the corner,” said Mr Frederick Goh, Vice President of Mitsubishi Electric Asia.

You can catch the employees in action in Ep 10 of RenovAID, which debuts on January 8, 2020.

As part of its yearly tradition, Mitsubishi Electric Asia celebrated CNY with the elderly from APEX Day Rehabilitation Centre at Hai Bin Prawning at Punggol, where each volunteer paired up with an elderly for an unforgettable day. Prizes were given out to the elderly who caught the most prawns in a mini prawning challenge. They then proceeded to enjoy a lo hei toss and sumptuous lunch at Uncle Leong Seafood restaurant.

Mitsubishi Electric Asia staff took some time out to pack food bundles for elderly beneficiaries of Thye Hua Kwan, one of its adopted charities. The goodie bags included daily-consumption provisions like instant noodles, cream crackers, Milo and more.

To help APEX Day Rehabilitation Centre raise funds, Mitsubishi Electric Asia helped out by taking a few Flag Day tins, and managed to raise $1,611 in four days just by seeking donations from within the company. The money raised would help finance the activities and daily operations of the centre for the elderly.

Mitsubishi Electric Asia conducts an internal blood donation drive in collaboration with the Singapore Red Cross Society, as it believes blood donation is a community responsibility.

According to the Red Cross, every hour of the day, 15 units of blood are used in Singapore. We need about 120,000 units of blood to meet the transfusion needs of patients every year, equivalent to more than 400 units of blood a day.

“Through this event, we hope to raise awareness about blood donation and encourage our staff to be regular blood donors,” said Mr Frederick Goh.