Pensioner’s mission to feed homeless of Kuala Lumpur

Lian (right) arranging for food to be given to the underprivileged in another of his outreach programmes.

Tony Lian, fondly known as Uncle Tony, is on a mission to feed the homeless of Kuala Lumpur.

Food4U, founded in 2015 by the pensioner, sees volunteers going out to the streets of the city to distribute food packs to the homeless twice a week as well as making trips around town to deliver essential groceries to the poor and destitute.

In the early days, Lian, 70, who was recently selected as a Sime Darby #Bersama Hero, gathered a group of friends and family members to embark on a journey to give fellow Malaysians a helping hand.

Food4U first started with only bread, water and a crowd of 80 people.

Today, the team has grown and serves 300 people hot food from a kitchen and fresh fruits from the market every Tuesday and Wednesday night.

On Saturdays, they visit the underprivileged to deliver desperately-needed groceries.

The team also tries to help street people in the long term by connecting them with companies that are willing to provide them with job opportunities.

The resources used by the Food4U team is wholly generated by volunteers, friends and family as well as donations from a few organisations.

The team has to this day maintained a low profile, choosing to focus solely on providing for those in need.

This is in spite of the fact that certificates of appreciation from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry as well as the Norwegian government have been awarded to the team for their efforts.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to make significant changes in the lifestyles of many, the hungry and the homeless have nowhere to turn to for aid.

Seeing this urgent need to provide for the homeless and destitute, Lian and the Food4U team continue to work towards making the community a better place for all, especially the vulnerable.

“It is only right to provide the necessities in life such as food, lodging and education to people, regardless of background, therefore creating an environment that is beneficial to Malaysians as a whole, ” said Lian.