Pattaya, Thailand-
The situation in Pattaya due to Covid-19 and related restrictions and mandated closures putting thousands out of people out of work deteriorated very fast leaving many people destitute and in need of support. Local charities with years of experience suddenly found their funding diminishing and their caseload increasing.
A strategic alliance of 4 major organizations, a supermarket, and a restaurant has come together to help alleviate some of the duress being experienced by so many of Pattaya’s poor. MERCY Pattaya, Hand to Hand Foundation, Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard, and Pattaya Food Bank are pooling their knowledge, resources, and expertise in an effort to help as many deserving people as they can.
Preparation for a second recent food distribution started 2 days before at Makro with staff involved buying all the supplies. Makro has been incredibly supportive in supplying masses of additional food and fruit. A small and dedicated team then spent the day preparing 500 food parcels for distribution at the Mercy Headquarters.
Through their years of experience, Mercy Pattaya and Hand to Hand have a list of people that need to be supported and tickets for the food handout to ensure that these genuinely needy people receive the highest priority.
It was a great team effort with the staff at Makro helping with deliveries and distribution, MERCY Pattaya with know-how, funds, and their ideal location. Hand to Hand assisted heavily with local contacts, volunteers, and funds. The Pattaya Food Bank provided funds, experience, and assistance. The Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard provided logistics, negotiations, and also funds from international benefactors. Finally, Pepper & Salt restaurant generously donated their kitchen and staff to prepare the warm meals.
Seeing the pleasure on the faces of the recipients and the knowledge that some will have a warm meal today and supplies for a few days is a great reward for all who support this cause.
For more information about each charity organization and how you can help please see below. All the organizations are planning on more events. Although the situation is slowly improving in Pattaya, tourists are still not welcome back from overseas yet and many businesses, especially in Pattaya’s massive entertainment industry that employs tens of thousands, remain shut by government order. Therefore, efforts to help those most in need continue:
Mercy Pattaya https://www.facebook.com/MercyPattaya/
Hand to Hand https://www.facebook.com/handtohandpattaya
Pattaya Food Bank https://www.facebook.com/PattayaFoodBankProgram
Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard https://www.facebook.com/RotaryClubEasternSeaboard
All photos courtesy of Mr. Kim Waddoup
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