Gulf Group provides free meals to local communities hit by the Covid-19 crisis
Gulf Energy Development Pcl has provided 2,000 pre-packed meal boxes per day to 27 communities in Bangkok.
The meals are directed especially towards people with disabilities, bedridden individuals, the elderly, the poor and families with young children to alleviate the difficulties these groups may face as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the company said.
The pilot project aims to distribute the meal for seven days with a total of 14,000 boxes. After that, the company will assess the situation on whether to extend the support to other communities.
Sitamon Ratanavadi, corporate social responsibility assistant, on behalf of CEO Sarath Ratanavadi, reiterated that “Gulf Group has already supported some hospitals, But on this occasion, the company cares about the people living in the community since people’s lives are being disrupted including income and consumption."
He said Gulf prepares meal boxes in accordance with proper food hygiene standards for communities requiring assistance. "Additionally, we would like to ask for everyone’s cooperation to stay home as much as possible to reduce the spreading of Covid-19,” he said.
“Distributing meal boxes through community leaders will reduce the chance of group gatherings. These leaders know the people in the community well, so the meal boxes certainly reach those in need.”
Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, a Thai activist noted for her work with slum dwellers in the Khlong Toei district and a founder of Duang Prateep Foundation, Foundation for Slum Child Care and Mooban Pattana Community School, explained, “Most people in the communities are wage workers relying on daily pay. With business slowing down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is no work, causing serious difficulties for the people in the communities. Gulf Group’s free meal initiative is extremely valuable and plays an important role in alleviating the difficulties. We will distribute the meals to those who need them the most, such as the elderly, poor families with young children and those who have lost their jobs who have now become community volunteers. This initiative is a much-needed act of kindness in a difficult time and we would like to sincerely thank Gulf Group for their support.”
To date, Gulf Group has donated a total of Bt34 million to five hospitals -- Bt20 million to Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Bt5 million to the Police General Hospital, Bt4 million to Rajavithi Hospital, Bt4 million to Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute and Bt1 million to the Central Chest Institute of Thailand to fund the procurement of much-needed medical equipment for Covid-19 patients. Additionally, Gulf also has donated 13,000 high-quality fabric masks to local authorities on the frontline in 10 provinces who are in charge of screening and monitoring civilians.
