EN
ID
ACTNews, JAKARTA – Despite the decreasing number
of COVID-19 cases, the economy of the people affected by the pandemic has not
recovered. The rapid spread of the virus requires the government to implement
restriction policies to hamper its spread. As a result, both small and big
businesses have lost their customers, resulting in unemployment and poverty.
Having launched several humanitarian
programs to deal with the effects of the pandemic, Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT)
recently launched another program named Cheap Food Operation with support
from the generous. Through this program, quality foodstuffs can be bought at
half-price to facilitate the economically underprivileged.
In Semarang, Saturday (10/30/2021), Cheap
Food Operation was held in collaboration with Universitas Negeri Semarang’s
Islamic Spirituality Bureau. The event took place in Deliksari Hamlet, Sukorejo
Village, Gunungpati District, Semarang. A total of 270 families benefitted from
this program.
“The generosity of the donors channeled
through the Cheap Food Operation helps not only the beneficiaries but also the
shop owners from whom we bought the foodstuff packages. We bought the food from
them at full price,” said Hamas Rausyanfikr of ACT Central Java.
Similar actions also took place in Solo, Kediri, and Pekanbaru with hundreds of food packages provided for the beneficiaries.
Cheap Food Operation held by ACT Kediri. (ACTNews)
A
help amid soaring food prices
The soaring price of cooking oil has
burdened consumers, especially women who often uses it for cooking. Santi (47),
a housewife who lives in Petogogan, South Jakarta, admitted that cooking oil is
now very expensive.
“The price of cooking oil has increased
quite drastically. I used to buy half a liter of cooking oil for IDR 8,000.
Now, it costs IDR 10,000,” she said, Monday (11/1/2021).
Santi’s livelihood has also been affected
by the pandemic. Her husband who previously worked as a construction project
foreman has been unemployed. Luckily, their family’s economy has slowly
improved along with the decrease in COVID-19 cases.
“I thank ACT and Masyarakat Relawan
Indonesia (MRI) South Jakarta for the cheap groceries. They really help me at
the time I need them most,” said Santi. []
