RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC) recently joined hands with the Rotary Club of Penang, the RUMC Christian Fellowship (CF) and the Lebuh Chulia Village Community Management Council (MPKK) to lend the needy a helping hand amid the Covid-19 pandemic. An official launch of the project was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Penang; YAB Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. This event was implemented in conjunction with the Penang Rotary Club’s food bank initiative “The Blessing Shelf” to help those who are in dire need for food assistance during these tough times.

Blessing Bags responds to the needs of people who have been badly impacted by the deadly coronavirus pandemic, mainly from the M40 category and below. Monetary donations were accepted from the 14th to 25th of July 2021, and physical food donations were contributed by various individuals until end of July 2021. Monetary donations were used to purchase the food items based on the food items list suggested by the Penang Rotary Club.

“We understand that many people are impacted during the course of the pandemic which began last year. Some had lost their jobs, some fell ill but survived, and there were also the unfortunate ones who succumbed to the virus. No matter how tough life is during this pandemic, none of us should suffer from the indignity of going hungry at night or to watch helplessly while our children starve. Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation towards the Rotary Club of Penang, RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus and the Lebuh Chulia MPKK for the success of this programme, which will be ongoing until September,” YAB Chow Kon Yeow said after launching the programme at the Youth Municipal Community Hall in Acheh Street on the 1st of August 2021.

RUMC is committed to helping the society during this time of uncertainties and the University is always in the lookout for avenues to contribute funds and other form of help to those in need. RUMC’s President & CEO, Professor David Whitford said that “RUMC management had been looking at how to assist the most vulnerable in society when we were approached by the RUMC Christian Fellowship who were seeking permission to raise funds and food to contribute to the effort of Rotary Club of Penang. As a result, RUMC management decided to match the fundraising of the RUMC Christian Fellowship to a maximum of RM10,000. We are delighted that RUMC Christian Fellowship exceeded this amount such that RUMC with the RUMC Christian Fellowship is contributing in excess of RM20,000.”

The Blessing Bag project is not merely a non-profit event, but also a portal to inculcate a glimpse of love and hope among the community. Some people may be comfortably living their daily lives, feeling frustrated they have not been able to dine outside, yet in the meantime, many families out there have been struggling for survival. A single act of kindness such as this not only creates a positive effect for the people we are helping, but it also spreads outward, inspiring others to do the same.