Social enterprise ‘What a Waste’ rescues food to be distributed to the needy – eNews Malaysia

IPOH, April 23 — Six years in the past, architect Alvin Chen was surveying a low-cost housing in Subang Jaya that he had been assigned to refurbish.

During the go to, Chen noticed large households being cramped into small items and sharing a plate of white rice.

As destiny would have it, he would go to a landfill throughout the course of his work the place he discovered edible food being left to rot.

That acquired Chen and his spouse Angela flip their backs towards their chosen career and go on to begin social enterprise, What a Waste (WaW) that rescues food to be distributed to the needy.

Speaking to eNews Malaysia, Chen mentioned once they first began in 2018, they labored with households having marriage ceremony banquets.

“We gained traction after we began the Say I Do to Environment marketing campaign and extra began to are available in.

“Today, we’re the solely organisation that has been allowed by motels to extract food from their kitchen.”

Besides marriage ceremony banquets, Chen mentioned WaW additionally rescues food from company occasions.

How it really works

Chen mentioned they might be knowledgeable days earlier than an occasion.

“We then ask for particulars similar to the variety of individuals it caters for, food kind and if the food is halal.

“Whether the food is halal or not will assist us to decide the place the food goes throughout distribution later,” defined Chen.

Next is getting the volunteers prepared and asking them to be on standby for the day of the occasion.

They additionally determine the place the food would be distributed on the day of the occasion.

“To date, we’ve volunteers alongside the west coast spanning from Perlis to Johor who’re in a position to are available in when there are occasions.”

Beneficiaries embrace these from the B40 group, refugees, welfare houses, avenue buddies and likewise animal shelters.

On the day of the occasion, WaW volunteers park themselves at the kitchen space to pack unfinished food utilizing recycled food containers.

According to Chen, they’ve of three hours to distribute the food earlier than it turns unhealthy therefore they want to work quick.

Due to the time constraints, the food will solely be distributed up to sure areas.

“For instance in Kuala Lumpur, we are able to solely cowl an space inside a 5 kilometers radius.”

Ramadan bazaars

Since final yr, WaW additionally rescues food from Ramadan bazaars.

Chen mentioned beginning with one bazaar final yr, the quantity was elevated to six bazaars this yr.

“We began at USJ 4 final yr and this yr expanded to Puchong Indah, Putra Heights and 4 extra areas in Subang Jaya.”

Chen mentioned final yr, 1.92 tonnes of food was rescued at USJ 4 whereas this yr, 3.086 tonnes had been saved from the six bazaars.

“There are plans to broaden to extra bazaars subsequent yr.”

This yr additionally noticed the implementation of e-platforms that hyperlink the marginalised communities.

Chen mentioned with the platform, communities are stored in loop on the food that’s out there.

“The platform can even enable higher distribution of food,” he added.

For additional particulars or to procure their providers, go to WaW on Facebook or Instagram.