Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, 18 November – In conjunction with the Festival of Light, Sunway Group, via its #SunwayforGood Deepavali Cheer initiative, is bringing some goodwill and joy by providing food aid to a total of 10,155 beneficiaries in the Klang Valley, Perak and Johor.
In a true Malaysian spirit, bottom 40% (B40) income-group Malaysian families of diverse races – whose sole breadwinners have lost their sources of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic – will receive essential groceries as relief for Deepavali.
Of the total beneficiaries, 4,605 of them are based in the Klang Valley, 1,260 in Perak and 4,290 in Johor.
In Johor and Perak, Sunway is collaborating with its long-time partner, The National Committee for Community Services & Health Malaysian Red Crescent, to reach out to the B40 communities.
For the Klang Valley, Sunway has partnered with FFM Berhad who had agreed to donate 5,089.2 kilogrammes (kgs) of food products from their brands – Massimo, Blue Key Flour, Meadow Fresh, V-soy, Marina and Karts Food Malaysia.
These products will be divided into three batches and donated to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – the Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas Malaysia (DHRRA Malaysia), Food Aid Foundation and The Lost Food Project.
The NGOs will collect the items from FFM Berhad’s warehouse in Sungai Buloh, before reaching their respective beneficiaries.
The #SunwayforGood Deepavali Cheer is part of the ongoing #SunwayforGood Food Bank programme that aims to end hunger, aided by public donations – crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently, the #SunwayforGood Food Bank programme has collected more than 25,000kgs of food donations, and is on track to achieve its target of 40,000kgs by Deepavali. The public are encouraged to continue making food donations.
Sunway Group deputy executive chairman Tan Sri Datuk Seri Razman M Hashim, leading the #SunwayforGood Food Bank initiative, said the #SunwayforGood Deepavali Cheer is among Sunway’s efforts in reducing hunger among the poor and B40 families, where sole breadwinners have lost their sources of income.
“Putting food on tables is vital during this challenging period, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It also brings some goodwill to the B40 families who need not worry about going hungry during Deepavali, so they can celebrate the occasion in a true Malaysian spirit,” he added.
The aforementioned initiatives are in sync with Sunway’s commitment in advancing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with the first five goals focusing on the betterment of society. For Goal 2: Zero Hunger, in particular, it focuses on solving the global food security issues and will deliver impact for Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-UNICEF study conducted in May 2020, one in four heads of households were unemployed during the movement control order (MCO), and that most of those who lost their jobs have no employment protection.
Earlier UNICEF studies also showed lower-income families have been struggling to cope. Families drawing monthly incomes of below RM5,000 are forced to consume less food despite spending more money on it.
The public can help by making donations at collection boxes in seven participating malls – Sunway Pyramid Mall, Sunway Putra Mall, Sunway Velocity Mall, Sunway Giza Mall, Sunway Geo, Sunway Citrine Hub and Sunway Big Box Retail Park.
Donations are ideally halal foods, including bulk dry goods, beverage, canned food, cooking essentials, herbs and spices.
Personal hygiene products are welcomed too, as well as excess food and items from surplus supplies which are in date but unused.
Donations can even be made via Sunway Pals through the PALS for Life mobile app for a contactless contribution.
For more information and a detailed list of items required, visit sunway.com.my/lightofhope.
