Helping hand for JB's homeless, poor

The Star

21-05-2025

Individuals, groups moved to distribute meals, dry food items at different locations in city
Every Friday at 10pm, a man who goes by the name Sam will gather with a few other volunteers to offer freshly cooked meals to those in need, at a five-foot way along Jalan Wong Ah Fook in Johor Baru.
This has been the 60-year-old's weekly routine for the past 10 years, driven by his belief that everyone deserves a warm meal and compassion.
'I decided to do this after an incident I witnessed about 10 years ago, while having a meal with my friend.
'We had just finished eating and were chatting at a mamak restaurant in Taman Pelangi when someone asked me, 'Boss, boleh angkat? (Boss, can I take?)'
'I thought it was a waiter wanting to clear the table so I just said yes,' Sam told StarMetro in an interview after a food distribution session.
What he saw next motivated the retiree to help those in need soon after.
'The next thing I knew, a homeless man took the leftover food from our plates with his hand and put it into a plastic bag.
'I was shocked. Even my friend, who was actively involved in social work then, had never seen that before.
'That was when I decided to do something about it,' he said.
Sam then organised his first food outreach programme near the Johor Baru Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Railway Station in November 2014.
Since then, his team, known as 'Friends and Strangers', have been providing hot meals for the homeless and urban poor.
'Each meal consists of rice, vegetables and a chicken or fish dish.
'We also make sure that the food is served hot and is home-cooked, in hopes of reminding them of home,' said Sam.
'We make it a point to start the distribution at the same time every week and ensure that the recipients do not litter, as a way to instil some discipline among them,' he said.
The team is currently serving between 30 and 40 packs of meals every Friday.
'The number used to be higher, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
'At times, we also found people who became temporarily homeless after falling prey to job scams.
'Many have eventually found their way home; not all the people who receive food are homeless.
'Some are urban poor who cannot afford to buy food as they have to prioritise other expenses, especially rent,' he added.
Ensuring quality
Similarly, restaurant manager Priscilla Goh, 35, who works in Singapore, was also moved to act after a chance encounter.
'I was shopping in Johor Baru after returning home from work, when I was approached by a homeless man who asked for food.
'I took him to a restaurant nearby and got him a meal.
'That incident struck a chord with me.
'It was then that I decided to do what little I could to help those in need,' said Priscilla.
The mother-of-two said she would try to have a food outreach programme in different spots in Johor Baru at least once a month and during special occasions.
'Whenever someone at home has a birthday or is celebrating a special occasion, I will distribute food to the homeless in town daily for about two weeks straight.
'On top of that, I also distribute food whenever I get the chance or when my friends ask me to help them do so.
'There are people who want to help but do not know where to start or the right spot to conduct the food distribution,' she noted.
However, Priscilla said she did not take food donations as she wanted to ensure the food the homeless receive was of good quality, halal and beef-free.
'I am very particular about that as I do not want them to end up getting sick from eating stale food.
'I also ensure that their dietary needs are met and their religious beliefs are respected.
'That is why I always personally check the food,' she said.
Stretching the budget
For Food Bank Jishan founder Goh Teck Kuan, helping those overlooked by formal aid remains his top priority.
'After the pandemic, we saw a big rise in people needing food assistance.
'Many still genuinely need help, especially single mothers and cancer patients,' said the 55-year-old tuition teacher.
The non-governmental organisation has set up four donation boxes in public areas, including malls.
'With public contributions, we are able to support at least 200 families monthly with essential dry goods.
'Every two weeks, the donation boxes get full. We collect and pack items like rice, cooking oil, flour, sugar, coffee and mee hoon for families in need.
'These items with long shelf life can help them stretch their budget,' said Teck Kuan.
Free vegetarian meals
In Taman Jaya Putra, a newly opened vegetarian restaurant is taking a different approach by serving free meals to all, six days a week.
Feng shui consultant Eng Yong Gian, 35, opened Arjanphon restaurant to promote healthier eating and compassionate living.
'As Buddhists, we are taught to value life, including animals.
'I hope to encourage more people to reduce meat in their diet by making vegetarian food more accessible,' he said.
The restaurant's name is taken from his Thai Buddhist monastic name, Arjan Na Ta Phon which means 'someone helpful'.
Eng also runs two Buddhist temples in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, in addition to his consultancy work.
'We cook 12 to 16 dishes daily, enough to feed about 300 people.
'Operating hours are from 11am to 7.30pm, six days a week.
'We also open on the first and 15th day of the lunar calendar, when many Buddhists observe vegetarian practices,' he said.
He added that the restaurant's location was chosen because of a lack of vegetarian options nearby.
'Whether you are rich or poor, everyone is welcome.
'The goal is to make good food available and to break the notion that vegetarian meals are expensive or boring,' said Eng.
Committed to community
Also offering free meals to the public is Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman, also known as the glass temple, in Wadi Hana.
Temple treasurer S. Maheshwara, 26, said the temple has been serving free meals for 48 weeks every year, with different devotees sponsoring the food each week.
'While some who come may be in need, most are here for prayers.
'The free food represents a sense of community and shared responsibility among devotees,' he said.
He added that each meal was typically sponsored with a RM2,000 donation from a family or individual.
'However, even on weeks when no donation is received, the temple continues to serve meals as part of its commitment to the community,' said Maheshwara.
He said the temple had also received a donation from a non-Hindu, Chinese family who visited as tourists.
'They visited the temple and a few weeks later, they returned to make a generous contribution.
'It is a reminder that kindness and generosity go beyond race and religion,' he highlighted.