PCSC raises US$8.54 million for Taiwan seniors

2015-01-12

A total of NT$273 million (US$8.54 million) was raised for Taiwan’s needy senior citizens in 2014 by Taipei City-headquartered President Chain Store Corp., operator of the local 7-Eleven franchise.

The sum, up 3 percent year on year, was generated through a change-for-charity campaign at the company’s 5,045 outlets nationwide. The result was particularly praiseworthy given the ongoing challenges faced by Taiwan’s charitable organizations, according to the PCSC 2014 Coin Charity Observation Report released Jan. 7.

Kaohsiung was the most generous PCSC region, maintaining its top-spot finish for the sixth consecutive year. Taitung, considered the least prosperous county with the lowest average household income in Taiwan, recorded the highest dollar donation average.

The report also revealed that ibon, a multifunction payment-related service available at 7-Eleven, was at the vanguard of donation efforts following the Kaohsiung City gas pipeline explosions last August. A total of NT$100 million was given by customers through the computerized devices.

Not content to rest on its laurels, PCSC plans to assist poverty-stricken senior citizens in 2015 through partnering with one of its five major funding recipients, Hondao Senior Citizens Welfare Foundation. The Taichung-based nongovernmental organization will recruit and train 200 volunteers to repair 300-plus residences.

The other four recipients are A Kernel of Wheat Foundation, Liver Disease Prevention and Treatment Research Foundation, Mennonite Social Welfare Foundation and Pingtung Christian Hospital.

In addition, the company will promotes its 7-Eleven and PCSC stores as community centers providing seniors with information services, meal deliveries and simple medical checkups. Last year, 7-Eleven stores delivered more than 200,000 meals and held 22 free hepatitis testing clinics.

It is estimated there are 112,147 poor seniors in Taiwan, with about 30 percent having less than NT$5,000 to spend each month.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=226073&CtNode=413)