Going to school with a new school backpack is a luxury for certain quarters, particularly the B40 community. Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd (Gardenia KL), through its Bag-2-School initiative, aspires to narrow this divide by equipping over 1,000 children from under-served communities with basic schooling necessities following the return of students to classrooms to resume the 2021 school term, as the nation continues to recover from the pandemic.
“Education is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty. We believe that having nice new accessories also plays a part in putting children in the right frame of mind for learning. Gardenia KL is thankful for the support of our partners from the welfare departments and associations in making our Bag-2-School initiative a success. Together, we aim to get our children excited about going back to school and learning for an equal chance to realise their full potential,” said Gardenia KL Corporate Affairs and Public Relations General Manager, Hazlinah Harun.
In collaboration with the Community Welfare Department and Consumers Association of Harapan Malaysia, Gardenia KL distributed 1,157 school backpacks containing water tumblers, and an assortment of Gardenia products valued at RM90,000. The backpacks were distributed from 7 to 15 April to support underprivileged school-going children from 18 schools in the Klang Valley and Johor.
The 18 beneficiaries under this year’s Bag-2-School initiative comprise of 10 schools in the Klang Valley, namely SK Seksyen 9 Kota Damansara, Petaling; SK Taman Cuepacs, Cheras; SJK Cina Lum Hua, Sabak Bernam; SMK Taman Selayang, Batu Caves; SMK Taman Klang Utama, Klang; SMK Sijangkang Jaya, Kuala Langat; SJK Tamil Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang; SJK Tamil Ladang West Country Barat, Kajang; SJK Tamil Ladang Bute, Sepang; and SJK Tamil Sepang.
Meanwhile, the remaining eight comprise of schools in Johor namely, SMK Seri Bali, Segamat, Johor; SJK Tamil Paloh, Johor; SJK Tamil Ladang Sri Gading, Batu Pahat; SK Kampung Kudung, Bekok, Johor; SK Seri Yong Peng, Johor; SJK Tamil Ladang Kulai Oil Palm, Kulai; SJK Tamil Ladang Kelan, Kulai, Johor and SJK Tamil Ladang Southern Malay, Renggam, Johor.
Introduced in 2015, Gardenia KL’s Bag-2-School initiative is an annual tradition, and 2021 marks its 7th year. In the spirit of giving back to the community, Gardenia KL employees independently raised the funds for the purchase of water tumblers and personally prepared each school backpack in solidarity with children from families in need.
Gardenia KL continues to stand in support of the nation as it recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. Early last year the company allocated RM1 million for its Gardenia Covid-19 Aid Programme in response to the impact of the Movement Control Order on B40 households. Todate, the Gardenia Covid-19 Aid Programme has contributed aid over four phases and Gardenia KL outreach efforts through the programme is ongoing as the nation continues to recover from the pandemic. The initiative has benefitted the Food Bank Programme, B40 households and front liners including delivery riders and taxi drivers serving the community with critical services since last March 2020.
Throughout all its efforts to aid communities in need, Gardenia KL worked closely in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia (JKM), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Oasis Harapan, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM), the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council's Zakat Collection Centre (PPZ) and Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (JAWI).
“All of us at Gardenia KL wish all Malaysians safety and wellness as we continue to recover as a nation. We look forward to healthier and happier days ahead, especially for our children as they discover new things and expand their horizons in the 2021 school year,” said Hazlinah.
About Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd
Gardenia KL was established in 1986. Today it is Southeast Asia’s leading bread manufacturer. After 35 years, Gardenia operates bakeries in Malaysia and produces 53 kinds of products daily, including a wide range of bread, buns, rolls, cakes, waffles, and other products like spreads and yellow noodles. Every day, Gardenia delivers complimentary fresh bread to over 81 charitable organisations such as old folks homes, orphanages, centres and schools for the differently abled, eight of which have been on Gardenia’s delivery list since 1991.
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