Caritas Macau’s Food Sharing Project is currently being carried out to help those in need amid Macau’s COVID-19 pandemic, with Secretary-General Paul Pun Chi Meng telling The Macau Post Daily that it supports and offers help to the jobless.
A statement posted on Facebook on Sunday pointed out that the project is prioritising assistance to people facing emergency situations in order to “balance their needs”, and to also avoid crowds gathering in line with the government’s COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures. However, Caritas will be sure attend to the needs of others once the situation improves after the current consolidation period, the statement said.
The government launched its weeklong consolidation period on Saturday as a new phase in its ongoing fight against the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Volunteers or staff, the statement noted, are stationed outside a building at 17 Avenida do Coronel Mesquita (opposite the bus stops) every day from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for emergency food packs to be given to those who have contacted Caritas Macau and registered for an appointment.
Pun told The Macau Post Daily outside the building that the project is a way to “show concern from the society”, adding that some people donate food to Caritas, which it in turn provides to those in need. Although not that many companies have contributed so far, Pun said that that Caritas strives to find ways to search for resources to support those in need.
When asked about the project’s progress and if there were enough supplies, Pun replied: “We still need to wait to get more food and supplies to fulfil the needs”.
Pun noted he hopes that the COVID-19 pandemic will end soon so that those who wish to return to their home countries can do so. He said that he also hopes that those who still have jobs are able to go back to full pay again to enable them to pull through while also providing for their families back home. “We also hope that they [those affected] all can think of something positive to contribute to themselves, to society and their countries”, Pun pointed out.
Meanwhile, the statement said that those “desperately in need” of food and Caritas’ services can call 2857 3297 during office hours and 2871 2965 during after-office hours, while a 24-Hour Emergency Support Service Hotline can also be called on 2852 5222.
Macau’s jobless rate stood at 3.4 percent in the March-May survey period, according to the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC).
Caritas Macau Secretary-General Paul Pun Chi Meng is about to hand a coupon to someone joining the Food Sharing Project yesterday at 17 Avenida do Coronel Mesquita.
People line up to receive their supplies yesterday.
Pun prepares to distribute supplies with staff and volunteers while people wait to be called to receive their supplies. Photos: Rui Pastorin
