A GROUP of people mindful that the impact of Covid-19 on jobs and livelihoods will continue has started community pantries, with an eye towards expansion.

The Metta Pantry project aims to help both locals and migrants in dire financial straits.

Coordinator Lim Kean Liang said many people have been retrenched, temporarily laid off or forced to take a pay cut despite the resumption of economic activities with the easing of movement controls.

The 65-year-old, who is among the 15 people who came together to start Metta Pantry, said he got the idea for the project from his teacher, a Buddhist monk called Venerable Mahinda, who was inspired by similar initiatives in other parts of the world.

Instead of directly giving food aid to the needy, as is done under many programmes, Metta Pantry operates on the concept of “passive taking”, Lim told The Malaysian Insight.

“The pantry is ‘passive’. It’s located at one spot, and people come by to take what they need.

“It operates on the concept of taking in a responsible manner, and stocking up with generosity and kindness.”

Two pantries were opened on May 29, one at a medical hall in Jalan Ipoh and the other at a pharmacy in Taman Bayu Perdana, Klang.

Lim said the project was started following residents’ feedback on the need for a community pantry for the poor.

Then, the search for location partners and volunteers began.

A third pantry was set up on June 22 at a coffee shop in Pusat Bandar Puchong.

To open the Puchong pantry, the team had to explain the project at length before the shop owner agreed to host it, he said.

“Although the pantry would disturb his business a little, he allowed us to place it at his shop.”

The project is also highly dependent on volunteers, he said, adding that those unable to contribute cash or food can work as supervisors, stockists, packers or transporters.

The team works with a daily budget of between RM220 and RM240 to buy basic items, including rice, cooking oil, eggs, noodles, bread, potatoes, onions, flour and canned food, for each pantry, which is restocked six days a week.

Lim said the team produces a weekly report on the items taken from the three locations.

“We place a lot of importance on transparency. So, we post a weekly report on Facebook on the amount of items taken from the pantries and the total value of the food.”

He said the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia (BMSM) and Aloka Foundation support the initiative.

Financial donations can be channelled to BMSM’s Public Bank account number 309-436-0931, while those who wish to give food items can contact 016-296-6223. – July 6, 2020.