In the SPIRIT of GIVING BACK

A roof over one’s head and a constant flow of hot meals are luxuries for some. While we celebrate the holiday season with our families and loved ones from the comforts of our homes, let’s spare a moment of thought to those who call the streets of Kuala Lumpur their home

- NAJIHAH RASHID

Urban impoverishment is rampant and it is especially hitting the heart of the country hard. In order to alleviate the situation, many non-government organisations have taken up arms and put their humanitarian ambition into action. Though it might be a simple matter to some, eating is a vital part of one’s day and once you take that away, things can quickly escalate and fall apart. In order to restore balance to these lives, these few soup kitchens are doing their part to help the homeless and the desperately poor—one empty stomach at a time.

The Need to Feed

No one is too big or too small when it comes to making an impact. Especially focusing on the marginalised communities of Kuala Lumpur, Need to Feed the Need (NFN) operates once a week, every Thursday night at the heart of the city. When the sun is down, its distribution centre, Medan Kasih is hoarded by those who seek NFN’s help.

On a regular distribution night, NFN only requires the help of 18 volunteers. Contrary to popular belief, more does not necessarily mean the merrier. Too many cooks will spoil the broth. The organisation is currently serving 400 patrons, 18 pairs of helping hands at a time strike a perfect balance to keep things running seamlessly. This also ensures that everyone gets a hands-on experience so that they could understand the cause better and ultimately serve better.

Feeding the people that roam the streets is a given, but they also provide other necessities such as diapers, baby formula, and sanitary pads once a month. Hygiene packs, consisting of oral care, shampoos, and shower gels, are distributed as necessary. Coordinating with other NGO’s, NFN avoids redundancy by setting a clear line of communication with other entities. As such, it can consistently guarantee that they are not over providing and generate excessive waste.