Hawkers and traders association resumes Caring Food Aid campaign
KUCHING: The Kuching and Samarahan Division Hawkers and Traders Association resumed its Caring Food Aid 3.0 campaign at the Eastgate Mall located at 9th Mile Kuching-Serian Road on Nov 27.
According to the association’s advisor Dato Sim Kiang Chiok, the event was a resounding success, with 300 sets of dry rations given away to needy families.
The families were identified with the assistance of Temenggong Tan Joo Poi along with the various Village Security and Development Committees (JKKKs) under his management.
“We also had input and feedback from our Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang and we all thank him for joining us during the event despite his busy schedule to meet up with the people as well as help with the distribution of the food aid during the event,” added Sim in a statement yesterday.
Sim said the association’s committee and sponsors were pleased that they were able to continue their efforts to assist where they can, particularly those in Kuching and Kota Samarahan who are facing hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sim said it was part of the association’s members’ way to give back to society.
“Even though business has been somewhat stalled for the past two years they are happy that they are able to give back a little to the people in need.
“Of course, we will never be able to match what the government has been doing but we see our contribution as complementary to the government’s assistance and we sincerely hope that it will help,” added Sim.
Sim revealed that the association had been able to assist with their ‘Packed Cooked Meal Aid’ programme which was carried out from June to August this year, during which 300 cooked meals were given out daily.
Following the success, in September this year the association started their ‘Caring Food Aid 1.0’ campaign to give out free food ration to those who applied for the aid at the Hui Sing Hawker Centre.
“We are indeed grateful to our main sponsor 38 Food Street Café as with their kind sponsorship the Caring Food Aid has grown from version 1.0, 2.0 to current 3.0 version.
“As at Nov 2021 we have given out approximately 6,800 dry food rations through the sponsorship and we are expecting to continue with these efforts in the coming weeks as well,” said Sim.
Sim also said that it was heartening for him personally to see that Sarawakians still kept to their tradition of being good neighbours as exemplified by the association and also many non-governmental organisations coming out to assist those in need.
He described this good deed as a Sarawakian identity which Sarawakians must strive to maintain and nurture.
“I am confident that this Sarawakian spirit will prevail and we will overcome whatever challenges by being together and united to assist the disadvantaged,” he said.