Feeding the hungry

Admin

CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who always has a heart for the underprivileged, took part in the distribution of food packs to the needy at the Lighthouse Community Service Centre (LCSC) and Kechara Soup Kitchen today.

He expressed his sincere thanks to the two organisations for their work done among the community and especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

LCSC, an off shoot of the Penang Office for Human Development under the Catholic Diocese of Penang, has been providing food for the hungry and poor of all races for the past 17 years at its premises in Penang Road.

LCSC senior manager Belevendiran Joseph said because of the Covid-19 crisis, they have temporarily stopped providing tea to them and also the use of bathrooms.

Chow presenting a packet of food to one of the recipients. With them are (from left) Gooi (partially blocked), Belevendiran, Boey, Yeoh and Teh.

“We’ll continue to hand out an average of 100 food packs to those in need every day from Monday to Friday. But due to the movement control order, we’ve stopped dine-in. We may resume dine-in in September if we see the situation is safe to do so. It will be for about 30 persons at any one time,” said Belevendiran.

“We’re thankful to all the donors. We’re also glad that the Chief Minister Office had recently given us RM10,000 which we will use to buy food for them from next month. We hope more donors will come forward to support us.”

Belevendiran said even staff members of Motorola, Dell and Intel came to the centre to cook food for the needy.

He added that there were other individual donors; some gave money while some bought food to be given to the needy.

Also present to see that the food distribution was held smoothly were LCSC project coordinator Jeffrey Boey, supervisor cum cook Alex Yeoh, care coordinator Margaret Yoong (who is also in charge of Lighthouse Children and Support Learning Centre) and caregivers Alfonso Nathan and Francis Xavier.

Besides Chow, state executive councillor Yeoh Soon Hin, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi also helped in the distribution of the food packs.

Also present were Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and some of Chow’s service centre staff members.

Belevendiran says the Lighthouse Community Service Centre has been providing food packets to the needy of all races for the past 17 years. On his right is caregiver Alfonso.

“I sincerely thank the Lighthouse for their charity work for many years and I hope they will continue this services to the community,” Chow told Buletin Mutiara.

“And also thank you to all the donors who have supported the Lighthouse by contributing food, cash donations, so that they can reach to the community at large for them to tide over this difficulty time.”

Chow and his team then proceeded to the Kechara Soup Kitchen in Halaman Ariffin, off Burmah Road, to help distribute food packs to about 120 people.

Kechara Soup Kitchen, which is a Penang-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), is looking for new premises in town as its current rented premises is earmarked for development.

On behalf of the NGO, Chow called upon the public to assist them with their relocation process.

“They are facing the hassle of having to relocate as the landlord plans to develop the place.

“They are now looking for a strategic location with a reasonable monthly rental.

“Hence, I hope they can find a suitable place to continue their generosity in serving the community,” Chow said after distributing basic necessities to the needy.

Chow handing a packet of food and a packet of soya bean to a recipient. With him are some members of the Kechara Soup Kitchen.

He added that he appreciated the works of Kechara Soup Kitchen and other charitable organisations, including Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merits Society, in helping the state government to look after the interest of the needy ones.

“Many of these recipients are comfortable in dealing with the NGOs while feeling thankful that Penang has many of such organisations.

“I’m extremely glad with the commitment given by the state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh and his team in rounding up the vagrants on the streets before placing them at the Caring Society Complex in Jalan Utama,” he added.

Kechara Soup Kitchen committee member Patsy Gooi, who was present, also hoped they would find new premises to conduct their charitable activities.

“I hope there will be good Samaritans helping us,” she said.

Also present were State Chinese (Penang) Association president Datuk Tan Gin Soon and Asia Pacific Color Department vice-president Lee Say Eng.

 

Story by Edmund Lee & K.H. Ong

Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi & Alvie Cheng

Video by Law Suun Ting & Chan Kok Kuan