On 19 November 2020 H.E. Mrs. Ureerat Chareontoh, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Czech Republic, Thai diplomats and staff of the Royal Thai Embassy in Prague, contributed Thai rice and Thai food products to the Czech Federation of Food Banks as part of the nationwide Czech Food Banks collection set for 21 November 2020. It is estimated that over 130,000 people will be fed in the Czech Republic from food banks for this year. The Embassy’s food contribution was received by Ms. Veronika Láchová, Director of the Czech Federation of Food Banks, Mr. Rostislav Ráček, Project Manager of the Czech Federation of Food Banks and Ms. Dana Růžičková, Director of the logistic center of the Czech Federation of Food Banks in Prague.
Food banks are non-profit organizations. They collect food and distribute to charities and the donated food will be passed to the needy and the underprivileged, for example single fathers/mothers, the disabled, seniors and homeless. Food banks receive food from growers and food producers, individual donors and the European food and material program. The main objective of food banks is to reduce hunger and malnutrition through the fight against food waste. The spring food collection was cancelled due to the declaration of state of emergency in March 2020, which has caused food banks to currently lack 10 tons of food per month. The nationwide food collection set for 21 November 2020 should help stock up food reserves. People wishing to support the collection shall visit one of the participating shops (Billa, dm drugstore, Globus, Kaufland, Lidl, MAKRO, ROSSMANN, Tesco, Rohlik.cz and iTesco), where they shall buy durable food or drug products and give to food banks volunteers who will be waiting next to cashiers to receive the donation.
The Embassy’s contribution and support, although in a small way, reflects the Embassy’s and the Thai community in the Czech Republic’s strong commitment to join hands with the Czech Republic in promoting the well-being of the underprivileged and fighting against COVID-19 in the Czech Republic.
