KUCHING, July 12: Hock Seng Lee (HSL) is distributing food baskets this month at La Promenade Mall along the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme in efforts to help those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to HSL executive director Simon Lau, in a statement today, the company is responding to calls for help from the residents in Samarahan and Kuching Divisions.
“Some of our staff brought up that they spotted some places with flags raised during their commute from work. We had a discussion about it at work and felt that we needed to do something,” he said.
Lau noted, the handout, which comes under their “Healthy Bodies, Happy Minds” CSR programme, is being coordinated by HSL’s Corporate Communications and Human Resources Department.
He said the first food basket handout, which include rice, oil, salt, sugar, condense milk, flour, biscuits, eggs and sanitary pads for women, started on Sunday (July 11), and from July 16 onwards, the food basket distribution will be on every Friday and Sunday, at 3pm, until July 30.
“We used to hold community outreach monthly under ‘Healthy Bodies’. Since the Movement Control Order implementation, we’ve redirected our funds and efforts, including using our Marketing Department to help the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to raise funds.
“The food aid now is a direct way for HSL to reach people in need. It is said that the true measure of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable. As such, we agree and want to do our part,” he added.
Meanwhile, HSL mall leasing manager Trish Lui, said they also hand out job application forms to the public.
“While we cannot promise anything, we still like to collect data of anyone who wants a job. Employment is the best way for anyone to help themselves,” she said.
HSL is partnering with Choice Supermarket and Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) for the food basket handouts this week until Thursday (July 15).
Also present during the distribution programme were MPKS chairman Datuk Peter Minos and Choice’s chief executive Dr Allan Hon. — DayakDaily
