FOOD banks will be set up in 24 schools in Penang this year.
A joint initiative between Giving Happiness Food Bank from the Apex Club of Penang and Masmeyer Foundation aims to encourage the spirit of giving and volunteerism within the community.
The initiative, which is supported by the state, also aims to assist the needy students in view of the rising cost of living.
State Environment and Welfare Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh lauded the collaboration between the two parties to help those in need.
“We have already established the Mutiara Food Bank to help the needy families.
“We could not achieve our mission of successfully setting up food banks in the 10 schools last year without the cooperation from the private sector and some of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
“The implementation of food banks at the schools will lead to a greater purpose of providing food to the underprivileged family,” he said at a press conference in Komtar today.
Masmeyer Foundation managing director Eow Seik Fong said they would do their best for the needy students.
“We will store healthy dry foods in the schools while parents are encouraged to make some food contributions from time to time as well.
“We will liaise with the schools’ Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) to obtain a list of needy students.
“It is a meaningful programme to lend a helping hand,” he said.
Apex Club of Penang president Skyler Tan said they wanted to help the communities in view of the rising living cost.
“We hope more schools will step forward to collaborate with us on this initiative.
“We hope to work with the schools’ PTAs to determine the needy students,” he said.
Kindly contact Eow at 012-4372288 or Manishalynn Khoo at 013-3088588 for more details.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad