Starbucks Malaysia collaborates with Hope Worldwide Malaysia Deliver Warmth to Victims of Penang Floods

Natural disasters are unpredictable and can occur anywhere anytime. Different countries experience various types of calamities such as earthquakes, tsunami, typhoons, floods and fire. Malaysia is quite lucky in the sense that we don't experience much of the natural disasters except flood. 

On the wee hours of 5th November 2017 morning, my sister suddenly heard the splashing of water in her bedroom. Getting down from the bed, she steps into 3 inches of water! Penang state was paralysed by floods that Sunday morning with most areas of Penang island and mainland flooded and some roads turned into rivers! Penang Environmental Committee Chairman Phee Boon Poh linked to the continuous rain to Typhoon Damrey that hit Vietnam.  

Several areas in Penang were affected by the flood which was triggered by extreme heavy and incessant downpour last weekend. Authorities have taken immediate action to rescue and evacuate 

flood victims to relief centres

Starbucks partners delivering coffee and tea to flood victims with help from HOPEww volunteers and YB Cheah Kah Peng’s officers.

Help then poured in from various quarters spearheaded by the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces. Starbucks Malaysia collaborates with Hope Worldwide Malaysia to deliver warmth in the aftermath by giving out free coffee, tea and bread to affected flood victims. 

Warm cups of coffee/tea served with warm and bright smiles to chase away the tiredness of the flood victims cleaning up their homes. 

Starbucks Malaysia has teamed up with Hope Worldwide Malaysia (HOPEww), and Penang State Assemblyman for Kebun Bunga, YB Cheah Kah Peng’s officers to distribute coffee, tea, and bread to affected flood victims at Jalan Lumba Kuda in Bukit Gantang, Penang after the flood subsided.

Flood victims enjoying their cup of warm coffee/tea received from the team

“It is disheartening to see a fellow State stricken by one of the worst floods in decades. At Starbucks, we are committed to serve and help our community, one cup at a time. Cleaning up in the aftermath of the flood is an exhausting task and energy levels will certainly be low. Other than the aid offered by authorities and the public, the least we can do is to do our part to assist the flood victims by keeping them energised as they go about their task of cleaning and repairing the damage done by the floods,” said Mr. Sydney Quays, Chief Executive Officer, Berjaya Food Berhad.

The team is all smiles at the end of the day.

 Led by Rina Siew, Starbucks Malaysia’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager, the Starbucks Malaysia team hopes this will be able to “fuel” up the flood victims’ energy in the aftermath of the flood, in collaboration with HOPEww.

Well done Starbucks Malaysia! Well Done HOPEww!