PETALING JAYA: Several NGOs will be stepping up efforts to cut food wastage and help the homeless throughout Ramadan.
Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) marketing director Justin Cheah said the organisation is strengthening its surplus food rescue programme through collaborations with hotels, Ramadan bazaar operators and local authorities.
“Our plan this year is to maintain our food rescue partnerships with hotels and bring in new partners.
“At the same time, we are working with DBKL and MySaveFood to collect surplus food from Ramadan bazaars around the city.”
On the target groups that KSK aims to help, Cheah said homelessness remains a persistent issue although there has been no sharp increase in numbers.
“We still see new faces from time to time, but there is no sudden rise.
“Efforts by NGOs, the Welfare Department (JKM) and DBKL have helped some individuals move out of the situation,” he said.
Asked about possible shortages of staff and volunteers as the country was still celebrating Chinese New Year, Cheah said operations were unaffected due to KSK’s multiracial workforce.
“Our staff come from different backgrounds, so there is no operational issue.”
Cheah said there has been a drop in the amount of surplus food collected from retailers, reflecting greater awareness among consumers and businesses.
“Surplus food is still there, but waste has reduced as consumers and retailers are more conscious.
“Our collection from retailers is also lower compared to previous years,” he said.
Another NGO, Food For Gelandangan (FFG), said it was prepared for a possible rise in demand for aid, especially among urban poor with irregular income.
“We are ready to increase distribution of dry food, mosquito coils and toiletries from hotels and mosques,” said FFG founder Mohd Azizan Zainal Abidin.
FFG may also consider distributing cooked food, although this is not its main approach.
“We may look into cooked food, but our mission is to educate the public about wastage on the streets and, most importantly, to help the needy with dignity and respect.”
Coordinator for Dapur Jalanan Kuala Lumpur (DJKL), M. Haziq Fikri Jasni said most of the NGO’s “friends” who turn up each week for food assistance are regulars.
“We welcome guests or anyone who happen to come by, perhaps wanting to enjoy a bowl of hot food for free,” he said.
