GEORGE TOWN – More than 80 food packs have been distributed by One Hope Charity and Welfare to Penang’s trishaw riders.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) is aiming to help reduce the financial burden of this segment of the population, especially those who have been out of a job over the last two years when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Its chairman Datuk Chua Sui Hau said each bag comprises food items like biscuits, canned food, noodles, Milo, and coffee worth RM200.
The food packs were distributed at Armenian Street Park, which is a Unesco heritage site, at noon.
Also present was state Tourism Development, Arts, Culture, and Heritage Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin.
“Trishaw riders have lost their income for the last two years, following the implementation of the movement control orders.
“The government lifted the interstate ban last month and people have started travelling. However, the tourism industry has yet to return to its former state.
“The trishaw riders, almost all of them are senior citizens. Losing their income for a longer period would have caused them a lot of financial difficulties, and we wanted to do our bit to help them overcome their financial burden,” Chua said.
He said the NGO had for the past two years contributed more than 40,000 food packs to the poor and underprivileged in the state, costing about RM8 million.
It has been obtaining the details of individuals and families in need of assistance, besides seeking help from community leaders and local civil groups.
“We continue to reach out to the needy and underprivileged who are financially burdened due to loss of jobs, loss of income, fewer working hours, or salary cuts because of the multiple lockdowns since March last year.
“We have to thank our donors who are the pillars of the organisation for contributing generously to our welfare and charity work. They understand our need to serve the community.”
Earlier this year, One Hope Charity and Welfare distributed 4,200 food packs via Penang’s 40 assemblymen, and an additional 5,000 packs through its Covid-19 Relief Programme.
Under this programme, the group organised the distribution of 3,900 food packs via 13 elected representatives – which earned praise from Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
One Hope Charity and Welfare was instrumental in converting the Balik Pulau Sport Complex and Mara Skills Institute in Jawi into low-risk Covid-19 treatment centres. It also sponsored equipment for the setting up of a 27-bed field intensive care unit at Kepala Batas Hospital in May.
Besides food aid, it has spent RM13 million on donating masks, sanitisers, and medical equipment to hospitals in Penang and several government agencies, including the Prisons Department and police.
The organisation also donated a freezer container to Penang Hospital in August to store bodies during the peak of the pandemic when the number of deaths had been surging. – The Vibes, December 16, 2021
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