Problem Statement:

Local communities in Bangkok who rely on the informal economy were unable to leave their homes due to strict lockdown measures. With heavy cases of COVID-19 clusters in Bangkok, many communities, especially those that are in overcrowded and economically deprived areas, were unable to leave their respective locales to earn a livelihood.

 

Target Group:

This project was aimed to help people and families who live in communities that were greatly affected by the strict COVID-19 lockdowns in Bangkok.

 

Proposed Solution:

Project co-leads agreed to launch prompt and urgent help to benefit the communities as a whole since it would not only mitigate the problem of hunger, but also prevent further spread of COVID-19. Imm Tong team raised funds to ensure food security and provide sustenance during this crisis for 28 COVID-19 hard-hit communities across Bangkok and prevent new potential clusters.

 

Activities:

Raising awareness through a fundraising program in order to purchase and send essential ingredients to the hub's partner, SOS (Scholars of Sustenance), an international food rescue foundation that works closely with community leaders and local volunteers in allocating food supplies, and provide hot nutritious meals from community kitchens to 28 vulnerable communities in Bangkok.

 

Short-term Goal/Results:

Within 2 weeks, the Imm Tong team collected almost THB 655,520 (USD 20,000) and distributed 26,357 warm meals to 28 communities in Greater Bangkok. To multiply the effect, the Imm Tong team cooked these warm meals using locally-sourced agricultural products from Thai farmers and fisherman (purchased over 183 kilograms of fermented fish, 2 tons of rice, 1.4 tons of halal-certified chicken, and 70 kg of garlic) whose livelihood has also been disrupted as supply chain throughout Thailand were affected.

 

Long-term Change:

The project was hatched as a quick response to help support local communities.

 

Available Metrics:

Total fund raised: 655,520 Baht. (Every 300 baht = 35 warm meals for 24 vulnerable communities)

- Provided 26,357 meals to more than 28 communities.

- Directly procured over 2 tons of rice from farmers in Mukdahan Province

- Directly procured 183 kg of fermented fish from fisherman village in Krabi to provide nutritious protein for vulnerable families in Bangkok as an alternative of canned fish.