KUALA LUMPUR: KECHARA Soup Kitchen recently launched its Kechara Food Bank programme in collaboration with KL Sogo shopping mall.
The tie-up allowed the public to donate dry food items such as pasta, noodles, crackers, milk powder, chocolate drink, cooking oil, canned vegetable, salt and sugar, which would be given to the underprivileged.
KL Sogo assistant general manager Lee Yit Yong said customers could shop at its supermarket at the lower ground floor before placing the items in the food bank bin that is placed near the cashiers.
“We hope the public will show their support for this initiative by contributing to the cause,” said Lee.
Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) president Datuk Ruby Khong said the collaboration was not only aimed at providing food for the needy but also to create awareness of the plight of the poor.
“We hope that this effort will also raise awareness of the predicament of the needy as hunger knows no barriers.
“Sogo KL is very supportive of this programme and the public also can be assured that their donations will be distributed to hundreds of families and welfare organisations,” she said.
Khong added that at present, KSK distributes dry sundries to over 100 families and several small charity organisations as far as Johor, along with 10,000 packets of dry food to the homeless in the city every month.
On another matter, Khong welcomed the recent announcement by City Hall mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib to set up cabin-style temporary shelters for the homeless near the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Pekeliling flats.
“It is good that City Hall wants to participate in our cause. As a non-governmental organisation (NGO), we need the government’s support as our resources are limited.
“If they want NGOs like us to run the shelters for them by providing the facilities, we are more than delighted to oblige,” she said.
