NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 8 – Majid Al Futtaim which operates Carrefour Supermarkets in Kenya has launched a charity initiative to support underprivileged families across Githembe, Nairobi, whose livelihoods have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The initiative, which the company says is in line with its long-term commitment to health and wellbeing, will donate more than 33 tonnes of staple food items, worth over Sh2.5 million, to families in need in the next couple of months.
In a statement, the company said the donation is made through a partnership with Kenya Red Cross.
The donation is part of a two-month long food distribution campaign targeting deprived neighbourhoods in Nairobi. The initiative is also being supported by the Kenya COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which is responsible for authorizing the distribution of the food packages to families.
“Just three weeks into the campaign, Carrefour has already donated over 5,000 food hampers comprising essential items including maize meal, rice, ndengu, and baking flour. As a catalyst for change in the community, Carrefour is encouraging its customers to join the cause by donating food hampers when they shop at any of Kenya’s seven Carrefour stores. Carrefour will supplement the contributions donated by its customers,”Franck Moreau, Country Manager of Carrefour Kenya at Majid Al Futtaim Retail said.
“It is an honour to collaborate with the Kenya Red Cross and the Kenya COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund by drawing on our diverse resources. We’re also very grateful to our customers for their generosity and help in upholding a spirit of togetherness during difficult times.
As a community champion, Carrefour will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with our customers and partners to support underprivileged families through such challenging times. It’s our way of demonstrating that we are here for the community when they need us most,” he added.
Dr Asha Mohammed, Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society said: “We are living in challenging times in Kenya, with the flooding situation in various parts of the country, the locust invasion, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Our partnership with Majid Al Futtaim and the involvement of the community serves to ease some of the immediate pressure for those most affected as we look to find long term solutions.”
