The current prolonged covid-19 pandemic with the extensions of MCOs has severely impacted many members of the community both in rural as well as urban areas.
As an effort to help ease the burden of those affected by the pandemic, Angkatan Zaman Mansang Sarawak (AZAM Sarawak) in collaboration with a local company, Timogah are providing food aid to those who are struggling to put food on the table.
”At least 100 families and individuals from around Kuching, Serian and Samarahan areas are targeted to receive the aid. These include daily paid workers who have lost their jobs, struggling single mothers and needy rural families”. Datu William Nyigor, Chairman of AZAM said this during a virtual ceremony to hand over the food aid to Timogah in Kuching today.
He added, this collaboration with Timogah also involved supporting rural small farmers and small retailers who supplied the various food items for the food packets, contributing in a small way to sustain their income stream during this challenging time.
Datu William further said that, it was AZAM’s hope to carry out more community services in the future, to help ensure no one was left behind, as part of efforts to support the state in its socio-economic recovery from the pandemic in the coming months and years.
Meanwhile, Mr. Heineken Laluan, Chief Executive Officer of Timogah said, ”we are proud to collaborate with AZAM and we are committed to the task where we are entrusted to deliver the donations to all the recipients. We are also happy to be involved in a programme that cares and helps people in need during this pandemic.”
The food aid, funded by donations from members and staff of AZAM comprises essential items such as rice, flour, cooking oil, canned food, dry food, eggs, fresh produce and baby formula.
This is the second time that AZAM is contributing food aid during the pandemic after the first one was carried out in 2020, focusing on the rural needy.
Establised in 1983, AZAM Sarawak is a non-profit and non-government organisation that seeks to facilitate development efforts in Sarawak through development communication. Its activities target mainly community leaders, rural communities, youth and women, development frontliners, media practitioners, school children and the general public.
For more information, contact AZAM Sarawak Communication Officer Nissa Normin at 082-411799 or email nissa@azam.org.my