Communities in Need in the Klang Valley Turn to #AyamWithYou Community Pantries by Anjung Singgah and Pertubuhan Kebajikan Kasih Nurul Hasanah
Kuala Lumpur, May 28, 2020 - While times are tough due
to the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysians are pulling together to support
communities with kindness and trust, giving old methods such as communal food
pantries an innovative spin.
The #AyamWithYou Food Pantry initiative, by Ayam Brand™ and 13
charity homes nationwide is helping charities, empowering them to help
surrounding communities that are in need.
For example in the Anjung Singgah homeless shelter in Jalan Lekiu
is leading the way for surrounding communities by managing the #AyamWithYou
pantry in this area.
“We were concerned for the well-being of some families here
especially during Ramadan and for Raya. We don’t have much, but they had less.
We have been part of the Ayam Brand™ Community Care campaign in the past. This year
Ayam Brand™ again provided our organisation with two months’ supply of their
products for our residents, and suggested the food pantry or gerobok rezeki as
a solution for the community. They have provided a weatherproof pantry and a
separate stock of products that we can bless the community with,” said Anjung
Singgah Yayasan Kebajikan Negara, operations
officer, Encik Amir Rudin Bin Abdul Rahman.
The weatherproof pantry is set up outside the shelter so that
social distancing is observed. It is open to the public round-the-clock. Staff
and residents update the community about the food pantry through community
groups on social media and messaging apps, and they top up the Ayam Brand™
products daily.
“We sent out messages by WhatsApp and Facebook that the food
pantry items are free for those who need, while those who want to contribute
can add dry foods, snacks, stationery, cleaning products and other essential
items. The residents
relish the responsibility of managing the food pantry
and keeping it well-stocked. They get to practice kindness and generosity,”
Encik Amir Rudin said.
Response to the initiative has been overwhelming with the daily
allocation of Ayam Brand™ products such as tuna, baked beans, processed peas,
canned pineapples and coconut milk snapped up quickly, and other essentials
being added, with strong support from the community.
“Surprises have turned up at the food pantry including fresh vegetables,
dates, baby formula, diapers and Raya cookies! We can feel the #KitaJagaKita
closeness. The #AyamWithYou food pantry project has made this Raya very special
by building stronger bonds of kindness, trust and support in our community,
allowing us to contribute actively well-being,” he added.
Through its long-running Corporate Social Responsibility
programmes Ayam Brand™ has contributed more than 2 million healthy meals for
charity, providing nutritious food to more than 21,800 people from 524 charity
organisations and NGOs over the past 12 years.
This year the brand has supported Covid-19 front liners at Hospital
Sungai Buloh, 13 charity homes, the #AyamWithYou food pantry initiative, and
the Anjung Singgah Kuala Lumpur Homeless Transit centre, with plans to support
more organisations and communities.
“Covid-19 drastically changed our plans for the 13th
annual Ayam Brand™ Community Care Campaign, but we see the positive impact of
the #AyamWithYou Food Pantry initiative. It changes the narrative for our
charity home partners, from being recipients to being contributors and donors
in their respective communities. The community here has embraced the food
pantry concept of ‘take what you need, leave what you can’ creating a virtuous
cycle that is sustaining the initiative” said Ayam Brand Malaysia’s Marketing
Manager, Nathan Deverre.
Ayam Brand™ staff have helped spread the word on the food pantry
so that more can benefit or contribute, and started the ball rolling by being
among the first to contribute non-food items to the pantry.
“Starting with our families and friends we sent out a list of
necessities for the pantry. Those who could dropped off essential items at the
pantry. The community are so willing and eager to help. They have shared the
location of the pantry with those in need as well. All of us can help within
our means,” said an Ayam Brand™ team member who lives in the area.
The
#AyamWithYou food pantry is located Anjung Singgah, Lot 28-32 Jalan Hang Lekiu,
50100 Kuala Lumpur and at Pertubuhan Kebajikan Kasih Nurul Hasanah No 1, Jalan
Pimping Kanan, Ukay Heights 68000 Ampang Selangor.
.Be part of the movement to
receive or to give essentials.
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