SERDANG: Malaysia's largest dairy product manufacturer, Farm Fresh Berhad, has launched a fund to provide financial assistance to children who lost their parents to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Tabung Didik Kasih Anak Yatim Farm Fresh was launched by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina bt Mohd Harun and Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin during the Farm Fresh Kongsi Kasih Concert held at Ladang 16, Universiti Putra Malaysia here on Friday.
Farm Fresh's chief operating officer Azmi Zainal, said the initiative was launched to invite Malaysians to help children who have lost their place of dependence after their parents succumbed to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"After we entered the endemic phase, many parties focused on reviving the country's economic sector, but many overlooked the fate and future of these unfortunate children.
"Hence, we from Farm Fresh would like to invite Malaysians, individuals and corporate sectors, to generously share their sustenance towards contributing to this fund that will be channelled to the orphans, "he said.
Earlier this month, Farm Fresh contributed some RM500,000 to the Yayasan Didik Negara (YDN) to be distributed for children in dire straits.
YDN is an organisation under the Education Ministry which focuses on fundraising for educational purposes in the empowerment of the national education ecosystem, channeling contributions and assistance to students, citizens, educators, schools and educational institutions under the ministry.
"We really understand the situation faced by children who have lost their mothers and fathers. They have lost a place to live and depend. Although some guardians or next-of-kins to these children can handle the shortage, the funds will help to ease their burden and to sustain them through this difficult period," he said.
Also present were Education Ministry secretary-general and YDN chairman Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia deputy vice-chancellor Prof. Dr. Nazamid Saari.
Since Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, a total of 5,173 students have been affected and this number is expected to increase daily.
The fundraising campaign is an ongoing one and targets a collection of RM3 million.
Also during the concert, Farm Fresh also launched a new banana-flavoured milk that has been long awaited by many banana flavored milk fans.
Farm Fresh Banana Milk is made from cow's milk, and comes in two sizes, a 700ml bottle and a 200ml UHT pack.
Farm Fresh Banana Milk is enriched with a sweet, creamy banana flavour and contains natural banana puree that gives an original banana-flavoured taste, and does not contain any type of flavour essence and colouring.
The Banana Milk is available at all hypermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores & petrol station marts as well as through the company's 'home dealers'.
Farm Fresh currently has over 832 'home dealers' and a network of 45 regional stockists involving 1302 agents in every state and region in Malaysia. Find and connect with home dealers through its e-commerce platform, Farm Fresh Mart at www.farmfreshmart.com