Covid relief bangkok

Covid Relief Bangkok was established in March 2020 in response to the devastating health and economic impacts created by the pandemic. It was founded through a coalition of individuals and organizations including: SATI Foundation, Scholars of Sustenance and Urban Studies Lab, Creative Migration (East) Foundation and the Thai Health Volunteers Foundation. Many of these groups had already worked together at Bangkok 1899 and The Ford Resource & Engagement Center (FREC Bangkok).

COVID-19 has completely transformed our lives. There is a sense that for many, the worst is yet to come. But while some people in Bangkok could quarantine themselves at home safely, there are many elderly and low-income households who rely on daily wages to support their families, making social distancing an impossibility. This posed a considerable threat to the lives of many, but especially the elderly and those already suffering from pre-existing conditions.

Together, our coalition has coordinated a challenging relief effort to distribute masks, soaps, hand sanitizers and basic food supplies to the most vulnerable groups in Bangkok, all while maintaining social distancing.

Covid Relief Bangkok uses demographics data from Urban Studies Lab to identify and locate the most in-need based on age and income, ensuring our efforts are targeted and have the most impact. Supplies and food donations came from crowdsourcing and corporate sponsorship. Bangkok 1899 acted as a drop-off and storage center. Trucking logistics to move the supplies were managed by the Ford Fund and Scholars of Sustenance (SOS). A network of well-trained health care workers ensured that the supplies and food made it to the most at-risk households in each community.

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  Served 22% of Bangkok’s lowest income households.
• Distributed 30,000 relief kits with rice, fish, milk, soap, masks, information pamphlets and other basic needs items.
  
• Served 1,000,000 meals based on 2,000 k-cal per meal count through supplies in the relief kits.

Covid Relief Bangkok will stop distributing basic needs kits in August 2020. Efforts will shift to Phase 2, where we will focus on mental health, particularly for those in isolation and poverty. Working with health care workers, our coalition is identifying people who need extra help, and finding ways to provide these important services.