By Olivia Miwil - March 16, 2025 @ 7:30am
KOTA KINABALU: When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, seasoned chef Norman James, 48, found himself struggling to make ends meet.
With no source of income, the father of six faced hardship even with more than 30 years of experience.
Instead of letting the experience break him, it motivated him to help others.
Today, Norman is an active volunteer with Dapur Kita-Kita, an initiative supported by volunteers, including from the Sabah Chefs Association, to provide free meals to those in need.
"One thing that really made me want to volunteer for Dapur Kita-Kita was the pandemic.
"It had a significant impact on me when I had no source of income. I could really relate to how people in need were feeling."
Since Dapur Kita-Kita began on Dec 16, Norman has dedicated hours to preparing and distributing food to those in need.
"I work five to six days a week. I spend my days off, sometimes weekdays, at Dapur Kita-Kita. On average, I put in 16 to 24 hours a week, as weekends tend to be busier."
In addition to distributing free food at Dapur Kita-Kita's kiosk in Bandaraya, Norman's team also delivered food to mosques, fire victims in Tanjung Aru and the homeless in Likas.
Dapur Kita-Kita is Sabah's first registered non-governmental organisation providing free meals. It distributes 200 food packs daily, except Sundays, to city residents, hospital staff and those in need.
Founder Datuk Koh Chung Jade said the initiative aimed to support city dwellers, particularly those with low income, by offering healthy food options.
"Some workers survive on instant noodles and plain rice just to get by."
For odd job worker Rusli Zauri, 38, from Semporna, he took every chance to reduce his living expenses, which he said was essential for survival in the city.
"It's not easy to survive in the city with a low income. I'm sharing a room to save money. Now that I can save on food, it really helps with my budgeting.
"Dapur Kita-Kita is one way I can get free meals, especially during Ramadan."
Rusli and his roommate, Abraham Zulkanain, 30, were among the people who received food packs from Dapur Kita-Kita's kiosk in Bandaraya. They took 11 packs, to be shared with their housemates.
Rusli said he had received a few meals from Dapur Kita-Kita since it opened.
He said the meals were delicious and nutritious, with a food pack usually including rice, meat, seafood and vegetables.
The initiative's coordinator, Victor Lim, said during Ramadan, the food distribution time was moved from 11.30am to 4.30pm.
"This change is to accommodate those observing the fasting month. But the food is not limited to those who fast. Anyone who needs assistance can receive it.
"If there's leftover food, we distribute it to nearby areas or hospitals."
Lim said the programme was facing a shortage of volunteers, as many people, particularly those in the hotel industry, were busy during Ramadan.
"Typically, we have about 10 volunteers helping with the daily programme, but now only five are available."
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