Free food cafe serving the poor closes after five years amid funding crunch

New Straits Times

4 days ago

ALOR SETAR: A free food cafe that once served as a lifeline for the homeless and the poor has been forced to shut down after nearly five years due to a lack of funding.
The cafe, run by Food Bank Malaysia, first opened at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 at premises on Jalan Sultanah and had since become a fixture for free meal distribution.
Its founder, Mohd Azrul Mohd Razak, 40, said the initiative started with food basket distributions after seeing how many people were struggling during the pandemic.
"Many came asking for help. Some had lost their jobs, others became homeless. I also thought about those renting small rooms without kitchens.
"They were hungry too, but had no place to cook. That's when I started turning the space below our office into a cafe where they could come and eat," he said.
Starting with a small kitchen and help from friends, Azrul and a team of volunteers prepared food every Friday.
They served rice, dishes, vegetables and either fruit or ice cream for the children.
"Those who came were not only allowed to eat there, but could also pack food for their families at home, especially if someone was unwell and couldn't come.
"We created a restaurant-like concept so that children from poor families could enjoy the experience of dining out, which they usually only watched others do," said the father of four.
Azrul said the cafe saw a steady flow of 50 to 80 visitors each week.
Preparations would begin as early as 3pm, with food served after Maghrib prayers until 10pm or 11pm.
What made the cafe even more special was how it provided side income opportunities for single mothers and asnaf (eligible zakat recipients), who were paid to cook and clean.
"This wasn't just a place to eat. It was a space to help more people whether they were hungry or in need of work to support their families," he said.
However, since the beginning of this year, the cafe's regular funding began to dry up.
Azrul said that from February onwards, he and his fellow volunteers relied on their savings and personal contributions to keep things going.
"Last week, on July 12, that was our last day of operations. Once the money completely ran out, we had no choice but to close," he said.
The closure, he added, was felt not only by the recipients but also by the volunteers, who had become like a big family.
"This place wasn't just for meals. It was where they shared stories, laughed, and relieved stress. That atmosphere is gone now," he said.
Each meal session cost up to RM1,000, including ingredients and wages, amounting to around RM4,000 monthly, a burden that became unsustainable without regular sponsorship.
Now, although the cafe's doors are shut, Azrul and his team continue distributing food baskets to the best of their ability.
"We use our own salaries and chip in a little each. Just so they'll still have some groceries at home," he said.
Azrul said he truly understands the hardship of going hungry, having experienced it himself as a child.
"Because I've felt hunger, I know how painful it is. When God gives more, I just want to give back," he said.