PROVIDING FOOD AND HOPE

MALAYSIAN CARE, together with partner non-profit organisations CREST and REACH, launched the FOOD4HOPE Covid-19 crisis relief programme in March in response to the Movement Control Order.

Over 700 families in the Klang Valley were helped, with more than 50 per cent from the B40 group, including the elderly, persons with disabilities and single parent families.

FOOD4HOPE also reached out to refugees and migrants, many of whom are affected by the loss of daily wages due to the halt in economic activities.

The relief effort started as awareness grew that the poor and vulnerable would bear the brunt of the pandemic.

The team at CARE decided to do something to help ease their struggle.

CARE assistant director S.C. Leong believes that many are going to bed hungry during this MCO and hopes that FOOD4HOPE will be able to help those with limited income and saving.

It is grateful that calls to donors have resulted in donations to CARE to this fund this relief effort.

More than 40 staff and volunteers, working in the Klang Valley, bought and delivered food to families at their homes.

Rice, oil and noodles were given, as well as canned meats and vegetables.

Volunteers and workers from a hypermarket loading a pick-up with items bought for distribution to the needy.

CARE staff or volunteers went to supermarkets or wholesalers, joining queues to buy these items.

For needs outside of the Klang Valley, coordination with volunteers, delivery companies or religious organisations was necessary.

During delivery of goods, we encountered neighbours who were also in need. The urban poor is a stark reality.

We recalled a visit to an apartment in Setapak where during delivery, our contact number for FOOD4HOPE

was given to several people. Many enquiries came in from friends and neighbours.

An Indian national who worked as a security guard shared during a call that he was thankful to God that his boss was willing to give him an advance. Otherwise, he said, he would have to sell his phone for RM30 so he could get something to eat over the next few days.

To be effective with limited resources and time, FOOD4HOPE has had to coordinate and share

information with other non-governmental agencies (NGOs) working in the area to ensure that help would reach the needy effectively.

Each beneficiary has to be verified, via identity card name and number, and number of family members listed before the process of buying and delivery can begin.

CARE coordinator Rozanne Yong hopes that with every delivery, an individual or a family will be all right for at least the next two weeks.

Malaysian CARE is grateful to the government and the generosity of fellow Malaysians and those from other nationalities from diverse ethnicities and faith.

Their help has enabled us to care for those in need in the spirit of “kita jaga kita”.

We continue to appeal for donations so that many more will be helped through our FOOD4HOPE programme.