Sands China Hosts Second Annual Sands Cares Food Kit Build Benefiting Caritas Macau

Team members assembling 3,000 kits to address food insecurity in Macao as part of global food kit builds being held at Sands' properties.

(Macao, Jun 18, 2023) – Sands China distributed food kits to the elderly at Caritas Macau's Brilho da Vida Elderly Centre Thursday, as part of the Sands Cares Food Kit Build, a global volunteer initiative being held at Las Vegas Sands (LVS) properties in Macao and Singapore in June.

Sands China Ltd. President Dr. Wilfred Wong and Caritas Macau Secretary-General Paul Pun Chi Meng joined Sands Cares Ambassadors to participate on the first day of the initiative on Thursday.

Sands Cares Ambassadors will assemble and distribute a total of 3,000 food kits, comprising 21 tons, to those in need in the community – including elderly residents, the disabled, poor families, aid recipients, and food bank recipients – at Caritas Macau's service centres from now until March 2024. Each food kit contains a total of 18 food items, including staple foods like oil, rice, macaroni, canned food, biscuits, and others.

"The Sands Cares Food Kit Build complements a broad slate of initiatives that Sands China and LVS pursue to address food insecurity," said Dr. Wong. "This event is one of our most inspiring, since our team members work hand-in-hand to provide relief to people in need and because we are part of a larger effort with our sister property, Marina Bay Sands, who is making the same impact in the Singapore community."

Addressing food security issues and supporting disadvantaged people are two primary focus areas of the global Sands Cares community engagement programme. In line with these priorities, Sands China is partnering with Caritas Macau to help alleviate hunger and poverty in Macao for this initiative. Additionally, Sands China has donated 960 kg of surplus bread items to local green enterprise Macau ECOnscious in support of its Macau Community Fridge initiative since 2022.

Pun said: "I'm grateful to Sands China for organising this food kit build initiative a second time and for helping meet the basic needs of vulnerable groups. My thanks also go to the company's volunteer team for participating in community service at our service centres to bring warmth and support to the community."

The Sands Cares Food Kit Build is one of three global Sands Cares initiatives, along with the Sands Cares Global Hygiene Kit Build with Clean the World and the Sands Cares Accelerator, a programme that helps advance nonprofit organisations to greater community impact. Together, these programs unify Sands properties in common goals to address global priorities including hardship relief, disaster response and preparedness, education, cultural and natural heritage, and local business and nonprofit partner development to meet the needs of Sands' communities.

Initiatives like the Sands Cares Food Kit Build are central to Sands China's commitment toward social causes and community involvement. The company's community work is part of Sands Cares, the global corporate citizenship programme of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Photo caption: Sands China distributes food kits to the elderly at Caritas Macau's Brilho da Vida Elderly Centre Thursday, as part of the Sands Cares Food Kit Build, a global volunteer initiative being held at Las Vegas Sands (LVS) properties in Macao and Singapore in June.

First seated row, left to right: Cheang Ka Leng, centre in charge of Brilho da Vida Elderly Centre of Caritas Macau; Judy Chiang It Sin, deputy service director of Caritas Macau; Paul Pun Chi Meng, secretary-general of Caritas Macau; Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd.; Cheang U Keong, chief of the Community Service and Program Unit of the Senior Service Division of the Social Welfare Bureau of the MSAR Government; and Sam Chong Nin, vice president of corporate communications and community affairs of Sands China Ltd.

Photo caption: Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd., presents a ceremonial cheque for 3,000 food kits (valued at MOP 880,000) to Paul Pun Chi Meng, secretary-general of Caritas Macau, Thursday at Caritas Macau's Brilho da Vida Elderly Centre.

 

Photo caption: Sands Cares Ambassadors distribute food kits to those in need in the community Thursday at Caritas Macau's Brilho da Vida Elderly Centre.

Photo caption: Each food kit contains a total of 18 food items, including staple foods like oil, rice, macaroni, canned food, biscuits, and others.