KOTA SAMARAHAN, July 12: A 16-year-old girl from Sadong Jaya who queued up for the Community Pantry Programme food aid has convinced the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) how important such a programme was.
MPKS chairman Dato Peter Minos said the programme which ran from July 4 to 12 (today), was aimed at giving away daily food assistance to the poor in Samarahan areas affected during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“We could not help everybody but even if we gave joy to just one person, that would be happiness enough. Seeing the eyes of the food pack recipients and the muted ‘Thank Yous’ behind the face masks, gave us happiness beyond description. Yes, real joy.
“I met a 16 years old girl from Sadong Jaya who told me that she came for the MPKS food pack because her parents were sick and her two younger brothers had no food to eat. My heart sank on hearing that.
“Therefore, I am so happy that we were able to channel assistance to that girl and many others who are in the same boat. May God bless and help them all,” he said in a statement today.
The Community Pantry programme was initiated by the MPKS in collaboration with the voluntary support of the 14 supermarkets in Kota Samarahan.
They are Aiman Mall, Emart Summer Mall, Farley Supermarket, H&L Supermarket, LePaPa Hypermarket, Unaco Supermarket, Choice Supermarket, Everwin, BB Supermarket, Everrise, Elli Supermarket, Teck Kong, CS Mini Market and Sen Sen Trading.
Minos said, knowing that many in Samarahan had lost their jobs and businesses due to the Covid-19 pandemic, MPKS with the 14 supermarkets sprang into action.
“Personally, the programme was a happy and satisfying exercise for us to have done our bit to assist those in need.
“It was a labour of love, of care. It was truly satisfying and gratifying in giving a helping hand to those fellow Sarawakians who are in need,” he added.
As Covid-19 has brought pain, suffering and misery to many fellow Sarawakians since March last year, Minos said it is thus really good and nice to see many parties and individuals throughout Sarawak came forward to help out the poor, on top of government assistance.
The organising chairman of the programme was Dato Sim Kiang Chiok, who is also a councillor in MPKS. — DayakDaily
