The HOT MEALS FOR ALL project, by Aland Tan and his wife Sunee Koyoma in Phuket Thailand, started from their commitment to give back to their local community in Patong. When covid-19 hit, the tourism-dependent economy of Phuket, its many local families, migrant Burmese workers primarily in construction, lost their jobs. Aland and his wife started preparing 60 hot meals daily to distribute to the local community folk since April 2020, increasing their food distribution numbers up to 100 meals per day. Many government initiatives to feed the poor and the economically hit have stopped since end 2020, but Aland and Sunee have kept on, funding these meals out of their own pockets and monies raised from friends and family. Their ability to increase their food distribution is dependent on kind contributions.
Along with packing 100 meals a day, significant single use plastic waste is generated. All foods currently are packed into throwaday bags. Aland and Sunee would like to move to eco-friendly paper packaging, however such packaging costs 4x more than single use plastic. We need to raise money to help us to not only deliver delicious healthy meals, but also help preserve the environment and beautiful beaches of Phuket.
To serve 1 meal, the all-in cost is c. US$1(THB 35).
Goals for the Fundraise:
- Increase number of hot meals provided from 100 to 200 per day (100% increase). Target c. 30,000 hot meals by July 2022
- Use eco-friendly packaging to be more sustainable to Phuket's environment
- Finance meals until March 2022
Use of Funds:
- Food costs: 65%
- Packaging: 10%
- Utilities, rent, gas: 20%
- Misc: 5%
Phuket is an economy that is entirely dependent on tourism. Since
its borders have shut in 2020, many have been out of work, small
businesses have shuttered, restaurants and bars closed. Many of us have
many a time enjoyed the beautiful beaches, the kind "sabai dee" smiles
from the many Thais that transport us in taxis, operate our tour boats,
serve us food and clean our hotel rooms, allowing us to enjoy the magnificent sunsets sipping cheap cocktails and chang beers. Today,
these jobs have all gone, there is no security net for the locals.
Alongside that, a once vibrant property and construction industry
primarily utilizing Burmese workers, have stopped work. Many of these
Burmese camps are left to fend for themselves, falling between the
cracks of any government assistance. The property developers that hired these workers also do not have the financial ability to feed them. Covid-19 has gone on longer than
anticipated, and our HOT MEALS FOR ALL project sees daily rising demand
for more food assistance. Many that come to collect these meals have
highlighted that it might be their Only Meal for That Day. We need
financial help to keep Aland and Sunee's good work going.
Covid-19 hit the world, but the poor and the underclass have bore the brunt of the burden. Let us all do what little we can to help out.
