Sani shows the food bank corner, filled with food items donated by members of the public.
LAWAS: A selfless act of a married couple here should serve as an inspiration to others on ways to help those in need during these trying times.
Civil servant Sani Gapar and his wife, Norliza Mat Jin, who runs a small food business, have set up a ‘food bank’ meant to help those who are the hardest hit by the Covid-19 situation.
The ‘food bank’, which occupies a corner at Norliza’s ‘AnNisa Enterprise’ shop at Medan Niaga Lawas, is filled with food items donated by members of the public.
According to Sani, the idea came about following their encounters with many individuals who had lost their jobs during the prolonged period of the Movement Control Order (MCO) enforced earlier this year due to the pandemic.
“They’re facing difficulties in making ends meet.
“Our food bank is a temporary support to those who have lost their jobs – it serves to provide emotional support and encouragement to them during these trying times, so that they would not give up easily.
“As the number of people who have come forward begins to increase, we have decided to use parts of my salary to stock up the food bank.
“The response has been phenomenal not only among those seeking support, but also members of the public coming forward to donate money and food items. We have also been receiving enquiries from the people in Sabah, Brunei and Peninsular Malaysia, expressing interest in wiring money over to us to expanding the food bank and also to reach out to more people,” said Sani, a teacher at SMK Lawas.
He added that the donated money was used to purchase essential food for hard-core poor families.
“As the demand rises, I begin to encourage my friends at the Medan Niaga to set up their own food banks to help us cope with the increasing demands,” he said.
It is known later that the couple is not alone in this charitable endeavour – Airan Cushion Trading Food bank has also been actively distributing food around this division, reaching out to families in need.
Among the areas that the food bank has reached out to are Kampung Long Talis, Long Tengoa, Tang Sango, Awat-Awat, Long Tuan, Sebanggang Baru, Sebangang Lama, Long Segaman Aru, Tanjung Katong, Sebelah Baru Sundar, Sungai Kudong, Serdang, Belipat, Perumahan Banting Phase III, Gaya, Long Segaman, Labik-Labik, Long Ramirang, Pa’dadar, Long Tuna, Luagan, Bukit Naga, Siang-Siang Laut, Lumut, Kuala Lawas, Pakepulu, Pangi, areas in Banting and also Lawas town.