Youth sets up food bank with own pocket money to feed the poor

 

Concerned with the plight of poor families, a youth set up a food bank using portions of his pocket money that he saved to prevent them from going hungry.

Twenty-year-old Port Dickson-born R Praviin (above) said the initiative started four years ago when he was in Form Three.

He was feeling sad over the plight of a school mate who came from a poor family and since then, with the help of some teachers, he had been contributing basic necessities like rice, sugar, flour, milk and cooking oil to the poor from house to house.

“While schooling, I was given RM20 per week as pocket money by my father and from that sum, I saved RM13 for the purpose of charity. I managed to save RM100 to RM200 a month with which I could only help 10 selected poor families in the district.

“To raise funds, I did odd jobs like washing cars. I could not help the poor on a big scale, so I just did what I could so that no one in Port Dickson would go hungry,” he told Bernama today.

Aspiring to be an elected representative one day, the fifth of seven siblings now has two food banks, namely, in Batu 9, Teluk Kemang and Taman Mewah, Jalan Pantai.

“I like to help people… I want to help through education, food… and my mission is to make Port Dickson a district with zero hunger among the poor,” he said, adding that his family has been supportive of his initiative.

Praviin, who now works at his father’s air-conditioner repair shop at Batu 9, Teluk Kemang, welcomed contributions from others to help those in need.

With the RM1,000 he earns from his father’s shop each month, he sets aside RM400 for his food banks.

“My initiative has so far received positive feedback from the local community and the needy,” he said.

Those who wish to contribute to the effort can contact Praviin at 017-3234033. - Mkini