IN the face of economic distress encountered by many families during the full movement control order, a non-governmental organisation is providing hope to a lot of people in need of help.
One Hope Charity & Welfare today delivered 5,000 boxes of food items under its pandemic relief programme called “Food Box with Love Campaign” through courier service to the recipients throughout the state.
Each box of food items is worth over RM200.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow praised the organisation when he received the donation in a symbolic ceremony at the public space near the Komtar Maybank.
One Hope Charity & Welfare were represented by its adviser Datuk Seri R. Arunasalam V. Ramasamy, chairman Chua Sui Hau and senior programme coordinator Lee Pei Pei.
“Today we witnessed another charitable deed by One Hope Charity for their contribution of 5,000 food boxes. They will be distributed to selected families who are affected by the loss of income during this FMCO,” Chow said at the simple ceremony.
“As an NGO, One Hope Charity has proven to be always on the forefront when it comes to welfare programmes.
“This is its second huge distribution of food packages, the first was the distribution of 4,200 food packages to all the 40 constituencies of the state last year.
“I am also informed that since the MCO began in March last year, One Hope Charity has thus far spent RM8 million in providing provisions to the needy.
“This is indeed a very caring gesture for the vulnerable group as many families lose their source of income during this pandemic and need assistance.
“And I believe the help provided by One Hope Charity will ease the burden of these families.”
Chow added that the distribution of the food boxes would be delivered via courier services to avoid a large gathering of people to receive the aid.
Chua said, in the past, One Hope Charity used to give out recycle bags containing the food items to the underprivileged families at the Caring Society Complex but this time, due to the Covid-19 situation, the NGO has changed the distribution method.
“Now, the recipients don’t have to come out and they can receive the food boxes at their doorstep. The food items per box are worth over RM200 and we have included medical face masks too,” Chua said.
He said each food basket contains one packet of 2kg Milo, one packet of 300gm Nescafe, two cans each of baked beans and canned sardines, 1kg of butter, one packet of Nestum 3-in-1 cereal, one jar of 500gm peanut butter, one tin of 530gm assorted biscuits, one bag of instant noodles, one packet of 1.2kg oatmeal, one box of medical grade face masks, and one bottle of hand sanitiser.
Chua said that as the nationwide total lockdown was imposed on June 1, many poor families began to call One Hope Charity to seek for food assistance on the second week of total lockdown. He noted that the number of people seeking for help has doubled from last year.
“Some of them called our hotline asking for help, while others were recommended by their respective community leaders to receive emergency food aids,” he said.
Arunasalam said besides helping the needy families with provisions, One Hope Charity & Welfare has also contributed RM14 million to assist the poor in meeting their surgery expenses last year.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Alissala Thian