PENANG, 1 August 2013 - Some 100 USM students and staff forsook their sleep to roam the streets of George Town to ‘hunt’ for the less fortunate and also those who had to work late to provide them with food packets and drinks.

Divided into two groups, the volunteers distributed about 500 packets of food and drinks which they had prepared and packed at USM’s Pusat Islam before heading for the Weld Quay area, the Esplanade, Upper Penang Road, the Masjid Lebuh Aceh area, and the Penang Hospital at midnight.

 

Among those who received the food under the three-hour Ramadan Link of Love: Relaxing with the Community During Sahur programme were the homeless, security guards, trishaw riders, taxi drivers, hospital staff and visitors.

“It is very heartening to see so many volunteers turning up, sacrificing the comfort of their home, to provide food and share their joy during this holy month,” programme coordinator, Khairul Eruwan Abdul Halim, said.

 

Universiti Sains Malaysia Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman, was also present at the launch of the event and participated in the food distribution as well.

The programmes were jointly organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia Respond Team (USMaRT), USM Islamic Centre, USM Students Volunteer Secretariat, and the Convocation Expo Secretariat (ConvEX). - Text and photos: Yong Check Yoon/Mohd Fairus Md Isa