Five institutions receiving Hero Meal samples from Kembara Kitchen representative, William Cheah, witnessed by Jannie Lasimbang and Head of the CIMB Bank CSR Section Rositah Mariam.
PENAMPANG: Hero Meals by Kembara Kitchen, a prominent Malaysian food aid initiative, is set to start contribution to communities in Sabah by handing over 5,000 packs of retort food packs to several vital institutions in the district today.
This generous event underscores Kembara Kitchen’s unwavering commitment to providing dependable and impactful food aid, especially during times of urgent need.
Kembara Kitchen, a private initiative driven by a desire to make a difference, aims to extend a helping hand to both frontline heroes and disaster victims. These Hero Meals retort food packs, designed to be cost-efficient, operationally effective, and safe for consumption, were distributed to APM (Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia), Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia), PACOS Trust, Penampang District Office and the Institute for Development Studies.
Hero Meals has proven to be particularly critical during times of great urgency, such as natural disasters and pandemics. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of reliable food aid, and Kembara Kitchen’s Hero Meals was at the forefront of addressing this pressing need.
Kapayan Assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang said that timely support during any disaster is a human right, and should be carried out without gender, religious, ethic or political discrimation.
She added that apart from the handing over of the 5,000 food packs, Kembara Kitchen through its founder William Cheah has committed to start production of retort food packs in Sabah with a local NGO, PACOS Trust. This project will be funded by CIMB Bank Berhad’s Corporate Social Responsibility section. Kembara Kitchen will provide training and support to PACOS Trust to ensure the project runs smoothly and able to respond to local needs.
Retort food packs are meticulously prepared using modern retort technology, making them capable of lasting up to two years without refrigeration when stored in a room-temperature facility. This ensures that the food remains safe and nutritious for an extended period.
Hero Meals holistic approach to food aid includes community involvement, from material procurement to food processing and distribution, thus engaging local resources and expertise to maximize its impact. This initiative embodies the spirit of unity and collective action in addressing food security concerns.
