These were the actual words of one desperate father who almost gave up recently. Jobless and depressed, he saw no end to the turmoil, despite selling much of his possessions in a desperate attempt to feed his wife and two children.
Thankfully, a concerned neighbour contacted Makan Kongsi 2.0 in the nick of time and the charitable organisation quickly responded. More importantly, they provided a support community for this struggling family to lean on.
This father and his family are just one out of the 20,932 families and individuals that Makan Kongsi 2.0 has helped since the recent movement control order (MCO) was extended on June 7.
Like this battle-worn father, thousands more are on the brink of giving up, and judging by the increasing number of suicide cases in Malaysia of late, many others will contemplate such desolate thoughts as they struggle to keep their families fed and safe.
However, Makan Kongsi 2.0 refuses to let the statistics rule the day.
“He could have been part of the daily suicide rates,” said Law Gin Kye, chairman of Makan Kongsi 2.0, as he recalled the suicidal father.
“The most vulnerable families are those without a support system. But when we connect them to our partners on the ground, a support system is immediately established,” explained 51-year-old Law.
Through the help of 77 partners comprising NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and NGIs (non-governmental individuals) from across Malaysia, Makan Kongsi 2.0 has successfully aided many.
“Once we identify those in need of aid, we mobilise our ground partners in the area to distribute supplies,” explained Law, on how Makan Kongsi 2.0 orchestrates their nationwide initiative.
With the exception of Perlis and Terengganu, their supplies reach every other state in the country. They’ve even supplied food to hungry Bajau Lauts (sea gypsies) off the coast of Semporna.
As of today, Makan Kongsi 2.0 has received RM353,356.67 in donations (and counting), thanks to generous donors, who made it possible for them to uplift the lives of the most helpless in society.
According to Law, it costs just RM50 to feed a family of two for two weeks, while RM100 can sustain a family of five for the same length of time.
The organisation helps B40 families, migrant workers, refugees, orang asli and more, by gathering and distributing basic food essentials such as rice, instant noodles, canned foods, and even milk powder.
To maximise their resources, Makan Kongsi 2.0 uses all their funds solely to gather or acquire these supplies. Any other miscellaneous expenses are paid for out of its members’ own pockets.
“We check every application thoroughly to ensure that they are genuine and require immediate help, just so we can prioritise the most vulnerable,” said Law.
“Hunger cannot wait, so we meet every night to allocate funds and resources, so that people will receive the aid the very next day, if possible.”
Unfortunately in the last week or so, funds have began to dry up for Law and his team due to the massive surge in aid applications.
“The number of daily inquiries we receive is just overwhelming, especially with the indefinite extension of FMCO. We thought by now, at least some industries would re-open, allowing people to earn a living. Sadly, this is not the case.
“To date, we have received a total of 125 partner applications, of which, only 77 have been fulfilled. The lack of funds has forced us to put the rest on hold, leaving thousands of families stranded.”
Law states that although he and his team are committed to serving the less fortunate, he hopes that the public can lend a hand by spreading the word about Makan Kongsi 2.0, as the organisation is in need of new partners to join the cause.
“As long as there is a need and we have the means, we’ll be there,” Law affirmed.
To those wanting to support Makan Kongsi 2.0’s goodwill initiative, donations can be sent digitally or to:
Public Bank 3816630332
ENGAGE NETWORK
REF: Makan Kongsi 2.0
For more enquiries, contact Makan Kongsi 2.0 through Facebook or at 016-212 6122.