Lotte P&D expands support for single-parent families

Lotte Property & Development Junior Board members pose before delivering boxes to support single-parent households with infants at Lotte World Mall in Songpa District, Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Lotte P&D

Lotte Property & Development (Lotte P&D) is rolling out its corporate social responsibility initiative, Happy Box, to support 100 single-parent families raising infants and toddlers in Seoul.

Since launching the program in 2017, the company has supported a total of 1,000 households to date.

The year-end initiative has primarily focused on low-income single-person households in Songpa District until now. This year, Lotte expanded the program to include families with young children across Seoul, emphasizing more hands-on child care support and increased employee participation.

“The Happy Box project is especially meaningful because our employees make the items themselves with care,” said Kim Hyuk-shin, head of Lotte P&D’s creating shared value team. “Going forward, we will keep working to expand a culture of sharing for the sustainable growth of our local communities.”

This year’s Happy Box includes infant-care items such as ear thermometers, blankets, baby snacks and diaper pouches, along with basic skin care products for parents. About 100 employees volunteered to hand-make the diaper pouches, adding a personal touch to the initiative.

Members of the company’s Junior Board, a group of younger employees formed to enhance aspects of organizational culture, also joined in packing and delivering the boxes.

“It’s meaningful to wrap up the year by doing something good with my colleagues,” a Junior Board member who helped make the diaper pouches and pack the Happy Boxes said of the experience. “I especially appreciated being able to personally deliver items we made to the children.”

Lotte P&D has been conducting various community-focused initiatives, including a cultural program which invites people with disabilities from Songpa District to events at Lotte World Mall and educational programs for children focusing on science, safety and dreams and a musical concert for social workers to recognize their hard work.