A Pack of Rice means Economy, a Pack of Rice means Sustenance

Journalist : Metta Wulandari, Photographer : Metta Wulandari

Lily, an employee, and volunteer from the Xie Li Community Foundation Mission Agency and DAAI TV came to Waroeng Menik to take orders for 100 boxes of vegetarian food.

The light in the display case at the small booth that reads WAROENG MENIK was brightly lit early in the morning. The shop owner, Ibu Priasih, better known as Bu Menik, has also been busy since dawn. Already since four in the morning, Mrs. Menik went to the market to shop for all the necessities for the day's trade. Accompanied by her husband who is in a good health, after shopping she was immediately taken to Taman Palem Mall, Cengkareng, West Jakarta. Usually when her husband's stomach acid and gout relapse, the mother goes alone or accompanied by her child. The title of being the family’s backbone has indeed been carried by Bu Menik since ten years ago.

Struggling with the stove and other things, that morning, Mrs. Menik had finished cooking all the menus around 8 am. She didn't even have time to eat breakfast. All she had was just a glass of warm sweet tea. The condition of the Covid-19 pandemic that never ended had made Mrs. Menik's diet a mess. She had been hit by stress and illness because she was confused, as well as afraid that her business could no longer be able to support the family. That's also what makes the 53-year-old mother's weight shrink by around 9-10 kg. “Now when people buy, they say I'm skinny. Yes, it's a lot of stress," she said jokingly.

Ibu Priasih or Ibu Menik (red shirt) serves buyers in her stall. Since the pandemic hit, Waroeng Menik has been greatly affected and almost went out of business.

Ibu Priasih named her food stall as Waroeng Menik. In Javanese, Menik can be interpreted into several meanings. According to Ibu Priasih, Menik means tiny. The reason is that the shop is really small. "It's like that," he explained. But Menik can also mean hardworking and smart. The meaning that really describes this is Ibu Priasih, who has been building a business for a dozen years to support her children and even helps her husband with a lot of hard work.

Located in the foodcourt Lt. 3 Mall Taman Palem, Waroeng Menik used to have 2 booths. Mrs. Menik told me that the income at that time (before the pandemic) could cover all rental costs which could reach 2 million per month per stand. He also has 3 employees who each earn around 2 million every month. The income can still be saved to prepare for old age. "Imagine if there is no unpredictable things happen (the Covid-19 pandemic) like this, Neng," she said, complaining a little.

A total of 100 boxes of vegetarian food are ready to be distributed to the community by the Tzu Chi Peduli team, Tzu Chi Sharing (Movement to Help Small Traders) from Xie Li Foundation Mission Agency and DAAI TV.

Having been hit by the pandemic since 2020, Mrs. Menik's heart can't stand seeing her shop empty every day. There are always leftovers from the food she had cooked every day. Vegetables that were stale and could not be shared with others, she had to throw away. As a side dish, she takes it home and distributes it to neighbors or other close families.

Various regulations to break the chain of the spread of Covid-19 have indeed made crowds in malls and various shopping centers limited. Only certain sectors are still allowed to open their business. Meanwhile, some employees were asked to work from home, large department stores also went out of business, plus weekly religious activities in the mall were also eliminated. Waroeng Menik's turnover dropped dramatically, but Bu Menik didn't close her shop for a day. “The rent goes on, Neng. So stay open, who knows tomorrow will be crowded. That's my prayer. Maybe it's quiet today, hopefully tomorrow it will be busy," he said.

Tzu Chi Community volunteers from Xie Li Foundation Mission Agency and DAAI TV picked up food that was ready to be distributed.

When Covid-19 became more widespread, Mrs. Menik then removed one of her sales stands. He couldn't bear the rent that was in arrears. What else can we do? At that time, she also lost one of her children. The three employees were also forced to be laid off first. She could not pay their salaries. Meanwhile, the savings for old age become a cushion to pay for the rent of the booth. Drain, and finished.

Mrs. Menik worked hard to manage her shop, assisted by her three children in turn. She said at that time it felt like between life and death, confused, and wanted to despair. Luckily her family strengthened and supported her. They still sell even though with fortitude.

Last week, when Lily, an employee and volunteer from the Xie Li Foundation community and DAAI TV came to the shop to ask questions and plan to order food, Mrs. Menik burst into tears.

Lily (volunteer), distributes food to scavengers who are found on the road to Rawa Kucing TPA, Tangerang.

"Oh Dear God, I'm so happy. Yesterday, the merchandise was quiet. Thank you for helping me. Thank you very much Tzu Chi. Thank you very much, Neng Lily, who came here and immediately found me. So we can help pay rent or something else,” said Mrs. Menik gratefully.

From Monday, September 6 to Friday, September 10, the Tzu Chi Peduli team, Tzu Chi Sharing (Movement to Help Small Traders) from Xie Li Foundation and DAAI TV ordered 100 portions of vegetarian food from Waroeng Menik. That's why since dawn, Mrs. Menik has been passionate about cooking. This week, she called one of her employees to come back to work to help her.

Even though the volunteer team planned to only order food for a week from her, there was a certain relief that radiated from Mrs. Menik's eyes. She is confident that the business she started from scratch will get back on track and she can restore her slumped economy, as well as the economy of her employees.

The total amount of food distributed that day was 170 portions.

When she found out that the food would be distributed to people in need, who happened to be on that day (7/9/21) for scavengers at the Rawa Kucing TPA, Tangerang, Mrs. Menik was even more enthusiastic. "Hopefully those who receive this food will always be healthy, protected, their sustenance will increase, abundant," she prayed, which was reassured by the child who accompanied her that day.

The total amount of food distributed to the scavengers at the Rawa Kucing TPA that day was 170 portions. Apart from Waroeng Menik, there is one more stall ordered by volunteers. The enthusiasm was great.

Luhandi Hermawan, Field Supervisor at TPA Rawa Kucing welcomed the arrival of volunteers. He admitted that he was happy when many people cared about and held this kind of social service in the TPA environment. “It means that there is an intention to help, for humanity. We are very enthusiastic,” he said representing the scavengers.

Happy faces of food recipients who are grateful to be able to get sustenance for lunch.

Andi, who is called Luhandi, said that the pandemic condition worsened all aspects, including the scavengers. Many people who used to be asked to work from home or laid off are now making a living by scavenging.

Although not many and in limited quantities only. Lily hopes that MSMEs and residents who receive the blessing of sustenance in the form of a packet of food can be equally grateful. "Although we can't help everyone, hopefully, this can ease the burden on our brothers and sisters who are heavily affected by the pandemic," she hoped.

The condition of a small pile of garbage in the Rawa Kucing landfill. The condition is getting worse because many people who used to work are now making a living by scavenging because they were laid off or laid off.

Lily also wants this program to last longer so that more UMKM and societies can receive blessings. "Hopefully in the future, we can establish a mate again with the scavengers here," he said.

“We have data, from the beginning there were more than 400 scavengers, now there are more than 500. After being researched, it turns out that some who used to work are now scavenging because they were laid off,” said Andi. "Concerned too, but how else," he added.

Lily, who participated in the distribution that day felt the same concern. Especially knowing that the local economy is indeed falling. "That's one of our considerations to try to share blessings with this Tzu Chi Peduli, Tzu Chi Sharing program," she said.

Translator: Olivia Tan (Tzu Chi Volunteers)