Hitachi Plays Santa 2021: Cooking from the Heart

For many of us, having food on the table is simply a given. However, there are many in the community who don’t have that luxury, constantly having to worry about where their next meal will come from.

That’s why, when Hitachi Plays Santa 2021 returned for its fifth year, Hitachi employees from 12 Hitachi Group of Companies (GoCs) in Singapore came together as One Hitachi to prepare and deliver food to the beneficiaries of Willing Hearts, a local charity and food kitchen.

Aptly titled ‘Cooking from the Heart’, our event on the 6th of November saw over 100 Hitachi employees generously volunteer their time for this good cause – because everybody deserves a warm meal on the table.

On the day of the event, Hitachi employees were already busy in the kitchen before the sun rose! From as early as 5.00 am, employees showed up and tirelessly prepared and packed meals, even as they adhered to the safe distancing and hygiene guidelines in place.

Hitachi volunteers keeping busy in Willing Hearts’ food kitchen during the early hours of the morning.

Others offered their vehicles for this worthy cause and made trips across Singapore to ensure these lovingly prepared meals made it to the doorsteps of our local beneficiaries in good time.

Our very own Managing Director (MD) of Hitachi Asia Ltd., Mr. Takatoshi Sasaki, and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Hitachi Asia Ltd., Mr. Tang Chay Wee, were both present from the early hours of the morning to lend a helping hand at the various kitchen stations and even delivered meals to beneficiaries.

Both were deeply heartened by the togetherness and generosity of the Hitachi employees on full display that early Saturday morning.

Mr. Tang (left) and Mr. Kazama - MD of Hitachi Aqua-Tech Engineering (right) preparing rice in the kitchen.

Our employees didn’t stop at volunteering, with donors from across the 12 Hitachi Group of Companies banding together to raise over SGD13,000 for Willing Hearts. This money will be put to good use by the entirely volunteer-run charity. An additional SGD850 of grocery vouchers were also donated to Willing Hearts, which will be given to families in need.

The Hitachi Asia Ltd. management team presenting the mock cheque to the President of Willing Hearts, Mr. Teh Eng Hua (extreme left in blue).
Hitachi management team (from the right): Mr. Sasaki (MD), Ms. Florence Chow (GM of HCG and CCG), Mr. Tang (COO), and Ms. Ng Sheue Lin (GM of ICO).

All in all, our volunteers had a great time cooking up a storm for Willing Hearts’ beneficiaries.

A big thank you to all the Hitachi employees who contributed in one way or another in powering good for our local community and showing that Hitachi truly cares.

Hitachi volunteers scooping out steaming-hot rice to be packed into meal boxes.

Mr. Sasaki preparing meal packs at the food-packing station.

Freshly prepared vegetarian meals.

New to Willing Hearts? No worries – a few of Willing Hearts’ regular volunteers were there to guide our Hitachi volunteers along the way.

Rows of warm meals lining up the loading bay, waiting to be delivered.

Mr. Tang (left), Driver Yunus (centred), and Mr. Sasaki (right) loading up a vehicle with food at the crack of dawn.

While the volunteers in the kitchen were busy cooking up a storm, there were also other Hitachi volunteers who helped in other areas such as washing and cutting vegetables for the next day’s meals.