JENJAROM, Nov 12 (Sin Chew Daily) — Five organizations — Fo Guang Shan, Buddha's Light International Association, Sin Chew Daily, Yayasan Sin Chew and Best Wishes Foundation are working together for a third time to deliver food items to the needy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About ten tons of donated food and necessities worth over RM 100,000 are delivered to the underprivileged groups badly affected by the pandemic.

A total of 68 welfare centers and 52 impoverished families from across the country are the beneficiaries of the food relief this round.

Sponsors handed over the relief items at Dong Zen Temple Wednesday. Temple volunteers were seen packing the goods into boxes for prompt delivery to the welfare homes as well as the needy families.

Siew Nyoke Chow, chief executive officer of Best Wishes Foundation cum deputy chairman of Yayasan Sin Chew, said many welfare homes were facing financial constraints due to the extended conditional movement control order (CMCO), making life much harsher for the poor families.

"Yayasan Sin Chew keeps receiving calls asking for help. We are anxious too. As the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening in Sabah and the frontliners are short of personal protective outfits, we are now focusing on helping the frontliners in Sabah," she said.

The support extended by the foundation came to an end with the additional medical staff and equipment dispatched by the health ministry to Sabah.

Siew said she was grateful to Fo Guang Shan which had responded to the call for help and had a team of volunteers ready to be mobilized.

This is the third time Yayasan Sin Chew and Fo Guang Shan have worked together. The first was in May when relief goods were delivered to 100 welfare centers, while the second operation in September benefited 50 families in Bentong.

Siew said the event shows that Malaysians are a caring lot. 

"We do not raise funds in public. We merely contacted several friends and some in business circle. The items are donated all within a few days days," she added.

Siew said the focus this time was more on welfare homes in Klang Valley. 

Ven Jue Cheng, Chief Abbess of Fo Guang Shan for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, said Malaysians are compassionate people who care a lot for others.

"This event aims to mobilize everyone to express their love and care for other people," said Ven Jue Cheng.

Lin Pei Kun, managing director of Tong Thye Siang Sdn Bhd, one of the sponsors, said the company had been working with Yayasan Sin Chew in charity events for more than ten years now.

Armed with a spirit to give back to the society, the company has made generous donations to welfare organizations all these years.

"There are many have lost their jobs. We are fortunate enough, so we hope to help those who are out of job or without any income," said Lin.

Yang Bao Mei, founder of one of the welfare homes, said the center faced reduced cash donations and was short of food. She was grateful to the donors for helping to lessen the center's financial burden.

Destiny Starting Point Welfare Association, one of the recipients, was also thankful to the sponsors.

The center was currently having problem paying its rent and needing beds.