LEMBAGA Zakat Selangor (LZS) continues to assist "asnaf" and other community members whose incomes have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
One of their recent efforts was the distribution of 770 food baskets to residents of the People's Housing Project (PPR) in Kota Damansara. Each basket contained RM100 worth of food supplies such as rice, cooking oil, flour, sardine, sugar and other dry food items.
Representatives of affected families received their food baskets from LZS chief executive officer, Saipolyazan M. Yusop.
The food assistance is one of 19 initiatives under the Zakat Selangor Peduli programme announced in July this year, which involves an allocation of RM69.3 million, says Saipolyazan.
The recipients of the food baskets were identified with the help of NGOs, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), amil kariah assistants, mosques in Selangor and through the white flag campaign.
"Thus far, we have provided 26,350 food baskets to communities affected by the pandemic on top of 14,758 that are readily contributed to asnaf families registered with LZS on a monthly basis."
In addition to food assistance, Zakat Selangor Peduli initiatives also cover the education needs of the community with an allocation of 7,000 tablets worth RM6 million.
The education aid is being distributed in phases to students sitting for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) dan Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations next year. Beneficiaries will also receive nine months' worth of internet data, which aims to ease the process of remote learning.
As part of the Zakat Selangor Peduli initiative, LZS has also allocated RM1 million to support the needs of frontliners who are battling the Covid-19 pandemic.
Saipolyazan says RM800,000 has been channelled to 12 hospitals across Selangor for the purchase of medical equipment as part of an effort to ensure all Covid-19 needs are addressed.
LZS also provided RM60,000 worth of food packs to patients and frontliners stationed at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS)
Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centre (PKRC) and the Covid Assessment Centre (CAC) at Melawati Stadium, Shah Alam.
Additionally, LZS provided vaccination centres (PPV) at Hospital Universiti
Teknologi MARA (HUiTM) and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Civic Hall with 20 wheelchairs each for the convenience of the elderly and disabled.
This is part of LZS' efforts to help the government expedite the vaccination process in order to achieve the nation's goal of overcoming the pandemic through herd immunity.