More donations sought to keep White Flag campaign going

 

The White Flag campaign, or #BenderaPutih, provides food and other forms of assistance to those badly hit by the pandemic.

PETALING JAYA: More than a month after the White Flag community food aid campaign began, an organiser says there is a danger of the project losing momentum unless more donations are raised.

Several people and organisations involved in the campaign told FMT the number of people in need of assistance remains high.

A spokesman for neighbourhood restaurant Loco TTDI said there are still daily requests for help from families and individuals affected by the pandemic.

The restaurant has distributed about 850 aid packages, costing RM54,000, so far and intends to carry on until the Covid-19 situation in the Klang Valley improves.

However, more donations are needed to sustain the food bank, which relies purely on contributions from the restaurant’s patrons, customers and the local community, the spokesman said.

“We expect more people to continue depending on the food banks in the coming weeks. If anyone is able to support us with food, financial aid or by volunteering, they are encouraged to get in touch with us.”

Under the White Flag campaign or #BenderaPutih, those in need of food and assistance are encouraged to place a white cloth outside their house or reach out for help without fear or shame.

The campaign began after reports of an increasing number of suicides among people who had been struggling to get by.

FMT has published a list of individuals and organisations who have offered aid under the campaign.

“Being featured on the FMT list has helped to raise awareness about our food bank,” the Loco TTDI spokesman said.

“We received calls and enquiries from those seeking help as well as those who wanted to donate food and other items.”

Nur Dinie Mohd Fadil, who founded an initiative based in Negeri Sembilan called #WaghihBantuWaghih, said her team has helped more than 200 families and collected almost RM15,000.

She said the FMT list had helped the initiative make an impact. “We’re still receiving donations and requests for help.”

However, the momentum is slowing down, Nur Dinie said, adding that she plans to continue the food bank project for the long term.

“We ask for the recipients’ particulars. That way, it would be easier for us to check on them periodically. We don’t want to make it just a one-off initiative. We want to continue helping them.”

Another individual who joined the campaign, Puteri Nur Balqis, said it was her first time organising a charity campaign.

“We’re helping about 30 families in Perak on a weekly basis,” she said.

Puteri said it would also be good if other forms of assistance, such as bill payment, could be considered. - FMT