Metro

Tuesday November 24, 2009

Charity food fair raises RM24,000 for needy folk


PENANG Times Square’s open plaza was buzzing with activity during the Ivorycares Carnival Day 2009 food fair which raised some RM24,000 for hardcore poor families and the underprivileged.

Some 50 hawker stalls from the Federation of Hawkers Association (Penang and Seberang Perai) were up and running by 10am on Nov 16 filling the air with the delicious smells of the state’s best hawker fare.

Satay and char koay teow were popular choices while crowds were also seen flocking to stalls offering dishes from nasi lemak and sweet corn to a wide variety of cakes and pastries.

Aside from the mouthwatering delights, visitors were also entertained by live music, dance performances and magic shows.

One particular crowd favourite was 11-year-old S. Sarewin Kumar who dazzled the au-dience with authentic Michael Jackson dance moves including both the classic and sideways moonwalk.

Phee giving his approval on paper plates used by some hawkers at the Ivorycares Carnival Day 2009.

There were also a colouring contest, a magic show, clown appearances, a stilt walking act, balloon sculpturing and various arts and craft activities for children at the event which was organised by Ivorycares, a charitable arm of the Ivory Properties Group.

Ivory Properties executive director Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff said the event was aimed at raising funds to help the less fortu- nate.

“In aid of hardcore poor families in Pe- nang, 50% of the profits raised at the car- nival will be channelled to the state government’s Partners against Poverty (PAP) programme.

“The other 50% will go to Ivorycares, Ivory Properties Group’s charitable arm, to support its ongoing activities and programmes for the underprivileged throughout the year,” Nazir said.

Ivory Properties also gave RM2,000 worth of carnival tickets to 200 hardcore poor families under the PAP to enjoy the event.

The event was opened by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s wife Betty Chew and state Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.

In his speech, Phee urged hawkers at the food fair to go ‘green’ by stopping the use of polystyrene food cartons.

“I want to make a personal appeal to the hawkers, for the sake of the environment and for all our children, to stop the use of polystyrene as it causes pollution.

“Moveover, polystyrene containers that are carelessly disposed off easily trap water and help the spread of dengue, malaria and chikungunya,” Phee said.

Switching to Hokkien, he told the hawkers that although polystyrene containers were cheaper than the paper alternative, future ge-nerations would have to pay a heavier price if its widespread use was not curbed.

Nazir said ticket sales from the event totalled RM49,235.

He said after deducting the organising cost and the cost of vendors who shared half of their sales, the balance of about RM24,000 was divided equally between PAP and Ivorycares, with Ivorycares further adding on to PAP’s share to round it up to RM12,000.

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