Working together to help the poor

Jul 11, 2020

By Linda Edward, CS
Face masks are an essential item during this pandemic to contain the spread of the coronavirus. However, buying in bulk or even buying one is not always an easy thing for some families.

Realising the plight of the low income families, the Human Development Committee in Sacred Heart Cathedral (HDCSHC) has partnered with Shangri-La Group and Diversey, a leading global hygiene and cleaning company, in their Linen for Life Face Mask Programme, to produce reusable face masks made of linen for local communities in need.

Sr Anita James, from HDC-SHC, the project coordinator, said the committee was eager to participate when Shangri-La approached them with the programme, “We’re pleased we are now able to further support the safety and wellbeing of families in need  with a basic form of protection. We are looking at producing thousands of face masks throughout the programme.”

“The HDC-SHC feels that producing your own linen face masks is more viable in terms of cost and more environmentally-friendly. The cost of one face mask in the market now is RM1.50, and is only for one-time use.

“The face masks that we are making are washable and thus can be used for longer pe riods of time. We will be distributing them to the migrant and local families who are in need. The average size of a household is 10 people with six to seven children,” she elaborated.

“We are happy to be collaborating with Diversey and Shangri-La once again after the success of the Soap for Hope initiative in 2017. In recent months, we have been supporting those financially impacted by the pandemic in terms of food aid, which reached 1,378 vulnerable migrant families during the Movement Control Order (MCO).

The first training for face mask sewing was held on June 27 in SHC and was attended by HDC and its counterparts, the Clare Missionaries and the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters.

Also present were Directors of Communications, Regina Sulit-Lain of Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort and Spa in Tuaran and Claudina Wong of Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa. To kickstart the training, they donated the first batch of used and cleaned bedsheets, duvet covers and pillowcases to be repurposed into reusable face masks.

The training was conducted by Josepheine Felix Jumin, a local artisan who has been producing batik products since 2016. As  part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programme, Shangri-La Rasa Ria has been partnering with Jumin by promoting her local products in the international market.

Regina Sulit said, “Part of our mission is to reduce single-use plastic. During the  MCO, we found a lot of used face masks lying waste on the ground. The upcycling of clean, used linen into face masks also provides Shangri-La with a meaningful way to help reduce environmental wastage.”