Malaysians always show that they care about those in need

According to The Star, the Assembly Soup Kitchen is a collection of people who have been assisting those affected by the pandemic and, more recently, flood victims (T.A.S.K.).

It all began with two good Samaritans — schoolteacher Soo Mun Keong, 41, and his engineer wife Wong Suet Beng, 39 – cooking hot meals for five families in need in their Subang Jaya, Selangor, home kitchen.

As word of their actions spread, more individuals wanted to help. (Photo / Retrieved from Pixabay)

"Even before the White Flag campaign started in the middle of this year, we'd already started supporting those in need by supplying them with hot, cooked meals," adds Soo.

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"It all began in October 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic. We spoke with a group of migrant workers about their experiences during the pandemic. They were day workers who had lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic and were struggling to feed their families.

"So my wife and I started cooking for these four to five families from our own kitchen just to help them out." After that, some of our friends noticed what we were doing and were moved to contribute as well. As a result, we invited our friends, neighbors, and church members to join us," he says.

As word of their actions spread, more individuals wanted to help, so the pair began cooking for others impacted by the virus.

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"It went from approximately 50 meals (from home) to 100 meals, and now we're able to provide more - about 6,000 meals a month for families affected by the pandemic because we now have an industrial kitchen in Glenmarie, Shah Alam," he says.

The White Flag campaign, which began in the middle of this year, raised public awareness on the grave need of a segment of Malaysians who were unable to put food on the table due to the pandemic's effects. People losing their jobs, having no income, burning through their money, and not being able to put food on the table were all concerns before that, according to Soo.

"However, the White Flag campaign raised public consciousness, and many people began to contact, ask questions, volunteer, and donate." "It was those few weeks of public awareness that prompted more people to volunteer to help individuals affected by the pandemic," he said.