For the second year, Lotuss Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Lotus’s Malaysia) donated 1,500 kilogrammes of pantry-stable food, drinking water, cooking oil, and other basics to Kechara Soup Kitchen in recognition of World Food Day, which would help more than 300 low-income families nationwide. Making ensuring Kechara’s food bank has an adequate supply of the healthy foods that families most frequently seek and providing food to people in need is one of the initiative’s main goals.
For its food donation drive that took place between 30 September to 15 October, Lotus’s had strategically placed Food Bins at seven of its outlets – Kepong, Tanjung Pinang, Station 18, Melaka, Seri Alam, Bukit Indah and Ipoh Garden, to encourage participation from its customers and the general public.
“As a caring and compassionate retailer driven by our #KitakanJiran spirit, we understand that we have a role to play in supporting the efforts conducted by charitable organisations like Kechara Soup Kitchen in addressing food insecurity amongst struggling families and individuals. Through this food drive, we can collectively make a significant impact to the lives of those who are facing hunger or malnutrition”, said Azliza Azmel, Corporate Services Executive Director from Lotus’s Malaysia.
Azliza handed over the collection of food contributed by Lotus’s customers and the general public to Justin Cheah, Marketing Director of Kechara Soup Kitchen, together with Dato’ Seri Master Chris Leong, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Chris Leong Method Tit Tar, an active volunteer at Kechara Soup Kitchen at a ceremony held at Lotus’s Kepong on Sunday, 15 October 2023. In support of this campaign, Lotus’s Malaysia contributed further food items and other necessities worth RM3,000 into the collection.
“The response has been positive. To see so many customers and the general public willing to donate food items to those who are less fortunate is truly inspiring. With such positive responses, we hope to continue this initiative in the future”, added Azliza.
In line with Lotus’s Malaysia’s commitment to redirect food waste from the landfills, the retailer has been working closely with its charity partners, including Kechara Soup Kitchen on its flagship Food Surplus Donation Programme since 2016, to redistribute fruits, vegetables and bakery products that are unsold, but still safe for human consumption towards the under-resourced individuals and families. As a testament towards the commitment, 2.4 million kilograms of food, equivalent to 10.4 million meals were redistributed to more than 120,000 families thus far.
