Grocery Shop With A Difference
How do you reach out to your community without duplicating what's already available there? In mulling this question, one church has come up with an innovative ministry that is sure to connect with the needy.
Called CAREmart, the ministry is essentially a grocery shop but with an edge. Berita NECF finds out more about this one-of-its-kind ministry from its director, Tan Chin Chin (who is also the part-time cashier, general worker, stock checker and system trouble shooter).
Q: What is CAREmart?
CAREmart is a grocery store that is open to the public. The difference is that we give subsidies to needy people to purchase essential goods at 30 percent discount. It is a ministry of our church (Full Gospel Tabernacle, Subang Jaya) to help people, primarily families, who are struggling with the escalating cost of living. Our unemployment rate is hitting 5%. Nationwide, 80,000 graduates are unemployed and many are being retrenched. Giving subsidies for essential goods is one way that we can help these people.
The 30 percent subsidy is only for essential goods, things we cannot do without such as rice, sugar, salt, flour, noodles, washing detergent, toiletries and others. Items such as chewing gum, fizzy drink, oyster sauce, Nescafe are not considered essential goods. So a subsidy holder who wants to reward himself with a coke will have to buy it at market price.
Church members and the public who are not eligible for the subsidy can also purchase the goods from CAREmart at market prices.
Q: What are your 'market prices' like?
We are just like any other grocery shops and our prices are comparable to theirs. We can't compete with hypermarkets as they get better deals from high volumes. Also, they may price certain goods at a loss to attract customers who will buy other stuff at higher margins.
Q: Who qualify for subsidy?
We are looking at families with savings of less than RM15,000, and with a combined monthly income of less than RM1,700 if they have two or more children, or less than RM1,400 with one child.
They apply and we assess their needs through an interview and home visit. Upon approval, they get a subsidy card entitling them to the 30 percent discount initially for three months. After that, we will review the subsidy for renewal of up to 12 months.
Q: How is the subsidy funded?
By individual churches. Other churches can participate by referring needy people to us. Once their applications are approved, the recommending churches will fund the subsidies. We will invoice the participating churches each month with details of their referrals, their purchases and amount subsidised.
In our church, we encourage all our members to buy their groceries from CAREmart instead of their favourite hypermarket or kedai runcit). After all, everyone needs to buy toiletries, noodles, rice etc. Our motto is "Everyone chipping in to help the needy". All our profits go towards helping the needy.
Q: Its location?
CAREmart officially opened on Nov 14, 2008 and is located at 15, Jalan Tiara 2, Tiara Square, Taman Perindustrian UEP, Subang Jaya. Currently, the shop is opened from 8a.m. to 6p.m. from Monday to Saturday. On Friday, it's extended to 8p.m. And on Sundays it's from 12:30p.m. to 6p.m.
Q: Is the choice of location important?
Yes, as with any sundry shop, accessibility to the public, church members, targeted needy people and the cost of goods are important. CAREmart is located near FGT Subang where we have over 1000 members and we are encouraging ALL of them to open their eyes to the poor and be a customer! Plus we are in the midst of a residential area.
Q: What has the response been like since it started?
Since its opening over four months ago, more and more of our members are choosing to buy from CAREmart. Some who own their companies are also buying their office use from CAREmart. We also sell gift vouchers. People buy these as birthday gifts or just to bless someone in a practical way. Most importantly, our members are looking out for struggling families and are referring them to us.
Q: Any other comments that will help churches to think about community service?
The present economic meltdown is a wonderful opportunity to touch our community. CAREmart is just one way. Churches must start preaching "good works" and actually do it. We need to do a "good works audit" of our churches. We go by Matthew 5:16 which says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
For some time now, churches have not been known to be nation builders. We believe this is the scale of blessing and impact that God desires to pour through churches in Malaysia.
When we think back of the Christian missionaries, they have built the foundations of our nation in education, justice, governance, health, infrastructure, defence, finance and many more. Every single Malaysian has been affected and is still benefiting from the good works done by these missionaries. |
