Malaysians are known to be a generous bunch and quick to aid those in crisis. A recent case in point is the speed and scale of relief efforts in aid of the December-January flood victims. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, impacting lives and livelihood, food banks started appearing in numerous locations. With the economy having reopened as the nation moves towards the endemic phase, most of these food collection/donation spots are gone. However, many out there are still in dire need of food aid.
According to the Malaysian Statistics Department's report in 2021, as much as 10% from the M40 (40% middle-income) group or about 600,000 households have slipped into the B40 category group due to the health and economic crises caused by COVID-19. Meanwhile, food prices continue to rise. The year-on-year food inflation of 6.1% in June 2022 was the highest rate since November 2011, with most food items recording an increase. All states registered an increase in the inflation of food and non-alcoholic beverages. The highest increase was recorded by the Federal Territory of Putrajaya (8.2%) followed by Selangor (7.5%).
How can you contribute to those in need?
There are still many food banks and soup kitchens that channel food to those in need that you can contribute to. Or you can make a quick online donation through the Box of Hope initiative under Air Selangor at www.airselangor.com/boxofhope/.
As the sole water services provider for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Air Selangor does not just supply safe and clean treated water to consumers but is also committed to helping those in need through its Sesama Mara programme. Sesama Mara, which means ‘Together We Move Forward’, is the overarching theme for Air Selangor’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. The initiatives under this programme are mainly grassroots initiatives aimed to give back to the surrounding communities and strengthen ties with local communities, residential associations, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations.
The Box of Hope initiative was launched in June 2020 in the wake of COVID-19 to help the B40 communities in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya face the rising cost of living, via the provision of basic food items. Large collection boxes were placed at five Village Grocer outlets in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya to enable the public to donate basic food items – such as rice, milk powder, canned food, flour, and cooking oil – which will be distributed to the B40 communities in need by Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia (YFBM).
As of June 2022, over 2,000 Box of Hope boxes worth over RM175,000 have been distributed to selected B40 communities and welfare homes in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
To encourage more people to donate, Air Selangor in early August launched the digital version of the Box of Hope to encourage more people to join it in its effort to help those in need. The digital platform makes it easier and more convenient for the public to donate to the less fortunate without having to physically visit a Box of Hope collection centre.
The public can still make physical donations at the existing five Box of Hope Village Grocer locations – namely Tamarind Square Cyberjaya, MyTown Cheras, 1 Mont Kiara, I-City Mall Shah Alam, and Melawati Mall Ampang. Air Selangor also plans to increase the number of Box of Hope distribution centres at Village Grocer outlets for the convenience of the public to make their donations. Box of Hope contributions can also be channelled through the CIMB bank account 80-0798511-8 (do include “Box of Hope Initiative Assistance” as a note).
As part of its Sesama Mara program, Air Selangor makes regular visits to welfare homes during festive occasions to bring cheer to the less fortunate.In conjunction with Malaysia’s Merdeka Day, Air Selangor has gifted basic food items and daily necessities to the Al Ihklas Elderly Care and Treatment Centre, the Anbe Sivam Charity Home, and the Ehsan Ash-Shakur Welfare Organisation Care Centre, sharing a slice of the Merdeka joy with the elderly and children at these homes. Air Selangor hopes that the assistance given will help reduce the expenses of these shelters in looking after the welfare of the less fortunate.
Air Selangor is committed to giving back to the community and intends to increase the quantum of its donation to the less fortunate this year. It encourages the public to continue to come together in extending aid to those in need, especially the B40 group, via the Box of Hope.
For more information on the Box of Hope initiative or other initiatives under Air Selangor’s Sesama Mara programme, please visit www.airselangor.com/sesamamara/.
