By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, June 9: A traditional coffeeshop speicalising in barbecue and roasted meat is offering a free meal to any individual who truly needs it during this Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
The coffeeshop – Wan Nurn Barbecue situated at Badungan, Kuching, offers at least 100 packets of chicken rice as well as 100 bottles of 500ml drinking water per day to anyone who needs a meal until June 14.
According to the coffeeshop owner Richard, 70 who is running the coffeeshop and the barbecue business with his adult children, today is the third day that the coffeeshop is playing its part in rendering help to those in need during this tough time brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It all started with my sons and his friends. They were talking about helping those in need and everyone agreed to chip in to provide 100 packets of chicken rice per day, until June 14,” said Richard who has been operating the coffeeshop for more than three decades.
When the initiative first started on June 7, they limited it to 100 packets of chicken rice to be given away each day, based on a first come first served basis.
Their good deeds, however, have reached far and wide in Kuching, resulting in more Good Samaritans giving them cash to allow them to prepare extra packets of food to be offered to the homeless, the jobless and the needy.
Today, they offered 120 packets of free meals instead of 100, after a customer donated RM100 to pay for the extra 20 packets.
For those who come for free meals, they are asked to register before being given the meals. A placard is placed there with the notification that one person is entitled to one packet each.
“Take one if you really need it. It is free,” the placard read, followed by a smiley face.
On the same placard, the Chinese statement however, revealed more. It says: “Let us help more people during the Covid-19 pandemic. Only for those who really need it. Thank you.”
Behind the simple placard, there are packets of chicken rice with a bottle of drinking water each, ready to the given away.
The process to obtain a free meal is straightforward. Once signed in, those coming for free meal will instantly be given the food. There was no waiting time.
There were also some exceptional moments. An elderly man with shoulder-length hair and dirty khakis and a shirt was seen trying not to stand too near to the coffeeshop, though his gaze was focusing on the placard. Richard, upon spotting him, sprang to his feet and quickly passed a packet of food to him. The elderly man was not asked to register.
Upon receiving the food, without saying a word, the man turned and walked away but not without a look of appreciation on his face.
“Whoever comes for free meals, as long as there is still enough food left and we are still in operation for the day, we will give it to them,” said Richard, who refused to give his full name and did not care much about the publicity that the family may receive for a beautiful deed. — DayakDaily
