Many people on Koh Samui lost their jobs last year and they cannot afford to buy the basic necessities for their families, due to the international border closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
These families have to make compromises between paying for basic needs, like food and rent, and buying essentials like diapers, baby formula and sanitary items.
Sisters on Samui has been providing food handouts to hundreds of Thai and Burmese families on the island since March 2020. We also provide emergency supplies for baby milk formula, and collect and handout second-hand clothing, shoes and bedding.
The typical #FeedSamui handout includes: rice, canned fish, instant noodles and sometimes we add a dozen eggs, or small packs of UHT milk for the school kids. Just recently we have been supplying personal care items including soap, sanitary items and dental care products
You can help tackle the needs of hundreds of families on Koh Samui, by donating to our #FeedSamui initiative.
The money you donate today will help hundreds of Samui families in need to put food on their plates in these difficult times.
“Have you eaten yet?” (กินข้าวรึยัง = gin khao reu yang) is a common Thai greeting when people meet up. It can also mean “are you hungry?”
There is a big focus on food in Thai culture. It’s common to ask someone if they’ve eaten or what they had for their last meal when you greet a person, right after saying hello (สวัสดี). So in these difficult times, it must be challenging to be asked this question, and to not have a full tummy.
You can help tackle the needs of hundreds of families on Koh Samui, by donating to our #FeedSamui initiative.
The money you donate today will help hundreds of Samui families in need to put food on their plates in these difficult times.
How will your donation help?
DONATE 1,000 THB – your donation will provide food packages for 4 families in need
DONATE 2,000 THB – your donation will provide 2 families with emergency baby formula for 1 month
DONATE 10,000 THB – your donation will provide food packages for 40 families in need
DONATE 25,000 THB – your donation will provide food packages to 100 families in need
Our research has shown that schools with around 300+ students will have 80-100 families in distress (where the parents are not working, or are getting by on a very low income). There are 21 government schools on the island. We have taken food to 2 government schools so far, and plan to continue this program when the Thai school year starts again in mid-May.
DONATE 45,000 THB – your donation will purchase 5 tonnes of rice, which will provide rice handouts to 2000 families.
We are planning to purchase rice in bulk from the mainland, which will greatly reduce the purchase cost. And we have storage space for this.
Khun TIP's STORY
Khun Tip (52) and her husband Khun Wit live together with their extended family – including her elderly parents, her 2 sons and 5 grandchildren. Before COVID her sons worked as drivers and earned enough money to support the family, while Khun Tip took care of the grandchildren. But since COVID, and the international border closure, her sons now earn less than half of their previous salaries.
In order to get by, Khun Tip opened a small fruit stall on the roadside. On a good day she can sell 1000 Baht worth of fruit (approx USD$30).
In addition to the financial stress, Khun Tip has some medical issues related to diabetes/kidney disease. She used to travel to the mainland every month for medical appointments in Suratthani. But she can no longer afford the ferry and petrol costs to travel to the mainland, so she hasn’t been back to the Doctor for 3 months.
The SOS #FeedSamui initiative supports families like Khun Tip’s with food handouts, to help tide things over in difficult times.
Khun Tip (left), with her husband Khun Wit, mother and 2 of her grandchildren.
Khun Tip’s fruit stall in Bangrak
You can donate to our Weeboon online fundraising campaign, using your credit or debit card.
https://www.weeboon.com/en/campaign/feedsamui
Or transfer funds into our Thai bank account
(please send us an email with the bank confirmation so we can thank you)
- KASIKORNBANK PCL
- Account Number: 059-1-799819
- Account Name: Claudia Wilkinson
- SWIFT code: KASITHBK
Thank you for supporting the #FeedSamui – Help a family in need fundraising campaign.