--- title: "‘Uncle didn’t even know about the haze’: Uni student, 25, spends $5k savings on free N95 masks for needy" url: "/community-voices/uncle-didnt-even-know-about-haze-uni-student-25-spends-5k-his-savings-giving-out-free-n95-masks" published: "2026-10-23T07:01:59.000Z" updated: "2026-10-23T07:08:21.000Z" section: "Community Voices" authors: ["Syazana Hishamuddin"] tags: ["initiative","student","volunteer","TNP News"] --- # ‘Uncle didn’t even know about the haze’: Uni student, 25, spends $5k savings on free N95 masks for needy When 25-year-old Adrian Lim knocked on an elderly man’s door to hand out free N95 masks amid the haze, the resident looked confused. It turned out that the 85-year-old man had no idea the haze was happening — because he was visually impaired. The encounter made the university student realise that even as Singapore grappled with its longest stretch of haze in recent years, some elderly folks were not even aware of the poor air quality. It also reinforced his resolve to help vulnerable residents through his SG As One initiative, which he conceived in just one week. The initiative invites volunteers to sign up as a “block host” or “helping hand”. These volunteers would then collect masks for their estate and hand them out door-to-door. So far, Lim has ralled more than 200 volunteers, with over 10,000 masks ready for distribution to date — partially funded by his own savings. ## From an idea to distribution in just one week Lim admitted that he used to “skip” volunteering and committee activities during his secondary school and polytechnic days. However, as he grew older and became “a bit more mature”, he began to understand the importance of giving back to the community. Speaking to Stomp, the National University of Singapore student shared that his father works as a taxi driver, while his grandmother “likes to go around collecting cardboard in her free time”. Realising that his loved ones were actively spending their days outdoors while the haze persisted, he felt compelled to help not just them, but also others who might find it challenging to collect N95 masks themselves. Lim noted that while Government-issued N95 masks are available at various vending machines and community centres — which he called a “great initiative” — some residents might not know where to collect them or be able to make it during the designated collection hours. “The main idea (for SG As One) was to address the gaps that people fall in between. I think there are a few (people) that don’t even know where to get the masks, or (cannot make it to) the community booths, which end at 6pm,” he said. “So for the weekdays, right, working parents can’t make it.” Lim was inspired to start his own website after coming across a fellow university student’s platform, How Much Haze Have You Smoked Today?, which helps the public visualise current PM2.5 readings in terms of their cigarette equivalent. A computing student, Lim swiftly developed the SG As One website and launched it just days later. The platform quickly gained traction after he posted about it on Reddit, inviting praise from netizens and attracting volunteers keen to help. ## Spent $5,000 of his savings on masks One challenge Lim had not anticipated was obtaining enough masks for distribution. Although ordering in bulk would have helped him to save costs, the long lead time was a risk he did not want to take given the haze situation. “Right now, I think if you go online or on Carousell, the prices are very inflated,” he said. “But I had no choice (and had) to buy from resellers.” As the co-founder of Vector Vending, which supplies vending machines to popular local establishments, Lim had some money saved up and decided to use $5,000 of it to fund the initial distribution of 2,000 masks. ![sg as one mask distribution adrian lim](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/b9425e923cccdf0434e09680249b83f1ff85495a61a4bf77c57624494a110bf4) *He had “no choice” but to buy N95 masks from resellers initially.* On Oct 20, he worked with about 130 volunteers to distribute the masks in Hougang, Ang Mo Kio and Macpherson, in what he described as “a huge success”. Residents turned up at void deck distribution points, while some volunteers went door-to-door. Through the initiative, Lim also met long-time volunteers who had already been helping their communities long before joining SG As One. “Actually many of them have their own community stuff also, like one auntie, Christina, she actually does her own funding to give out free bread to her neighbours,” Lim shared. He emphasised that more should be done to support such dedicated volunteers, who have been helping others in their own ways. ## Plans for islandwide distribution Since news of his efforts spread, Lim said “a lot of kind companies” and community agencies had reached out to collaborate with him. One such company is The Give Collective, which has committed to funding some of the costs of the next distribution. “I’m very grateful for them,” Lim said with a smile. ![n95, masks, haze, initiative, volunteer](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/b80f9e946441286d93825bd428ec04edf5b2ea94ef7c93fc256efa94a09da6ec) *The first round of distributions was a huge success.* Looking ahead, he is excited about the next round of distributions which will be “a huge operation islandwide” involving some 200 volunteers. They plan to give out a mix of N95 and KN95 masks — which both filter out 95% of airborne particles, just under different regional certifications — and have already rallied volunteer drivers to help transport supplies across Singapore. Recalling his encounter with the visually impaired 85-year-old uncle during the first activation, Lim said such observations can only be made “on the ground”. He hopes his initiative “can bring Singapore together” and keep the kampung spirit alive. “If you have the means, just go and help out everyone that you can,” he urged. Asked what he would do with any leftover masks once the haze subsides, Lim said he would consider making them available for free through his company’s vending machines. “I will for sure, for free. But they have to buy my products!” he said with a laugh.