Food banks and food aid in Penang: who gives, who takes donations

The short version

Penang's state food-aid programme is the Mutiara Food Bank (MFB), which collects surplus food that is still safe to eat and passes it to low-income households; in October 2026 the state said it serves all 40 state constituencies. The other published food bank with a Penang base is Kechara Soup Kitchen, at Lorong Carnarvon in George Town, which runs a soup kitchen and delivers food packs to registered families.

Mutiara Food Bank (state): no public address, phone number or drop-off point is published. Its new Semeja Harapan campaign with Lotus's started at Lotus's Sungai Dua.
Kechara Soup Kitchen, Penang hub: 56 & 58, Lorong Carnarvon, George Town, 10100. General enquiries (national): ksk@kechara.com, +6012-615 0260.
Lighthouse, Jalan Penang: its thrift store funds a soup kitchen open to all. No hours or contact are published.
Need cash help, not food? See Help for families in need.

Who does what

	Mutiara Food Bank	Kechara Soup Kitchen (Penang hub)	Lighthouse
Run by	Penang state government initiative	Kechara Soup Kitchen Society	Lighthouse (from a news report)
What it gives	Surplus food to poor and low-income households	Food packs to registered families; meal sets	Soup kitchen meals, open to all
Takes donations of	Surplus food from shops; public donations through Semeja Harapan	Money; dry food; surplus food from business partners	Preloved items for its thrift store
Where	Not published	56 & 58, Lorong Carnarvon, George Town	Jalan Penang (thrift store)
Hours and phone	Not published	Not published for the hub; national line +6012-615 0260	Not published

Mutiara Food Bank

The state government's Mutiara Food Bank redistributes food that would otherwise be thrown away. As published in 2021, Penang2030 (a Penang Institute site) reported that the state had collected 952,000kg of food for 49,179 recipients since the programme began in 2017, and quoted the then state welfare committee chairman saying the federal government's Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia followed its model.

In October 2026, Bernama reported that MFB and Lotus's Malaysia had launched the Semeja Harapan campaign to rescue surplus food that is still safe to eat. The state social development committee chair, Lim Siew Khim, said MFB now serves communities in all 40 state constituencies (DUN), and the campaign could reach more households registered on the national eKasih poverty database. The campaign combines rescued surplus food, donations from the public and distribution to communities. It was proposed for seven Lotus's branches in Penang, starting with Lotus's Sungai Dua; MFB also works with Lotus's Bagan Ajam and Lotus's Bukit Mertajam.

The state said Penang no longer has any hardcore poor heads of household registered on eKasih, but that 11,105 poor households still needed support as at 30 September 2026.

How to give or get help: the report does not say how the public can donate, or how a family asks MFB for food.

Sources: Bernama, 9 October 2026 and Penang2030, 2021, read 2026-10-14.

Kechara Soup Kitchen, Penang hub

Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) says its Penang hub, based in George Town, combines soup kitchen work with food bank services for the urban poor and nearby communities. The hub is at 56 & 58, Lorong Carnarvon, George Town, 10100.

What it gives: KSK packs donated dry food into food packs worth RM250, meant to last a family two months, and delivers them to registered families. Its registered beneficiaries include low-income families, single parents, elderly people and persons with disabilities. It also hands out meal sets: in Penang, from the hub on weekdays and on the street on Saturdays. KSK does not say how a family in Penang registers for a food pack.

What it takes:

Food: surplus fresh produce, bakery items, cooked food and near-expiry dry goods from partner businesses, and in-kind donations of dry food.
Money: one-off or monthly, online. KSK says donations of RM50 and above are tax-exempt under Section 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967, and you must ask for the receipt in the same month you donate.
Time: see Volunteering in Penang.

Contact: general enquiries ksk@kechara.com or +6012-615 0260 (KSK's national line).

Sources: KSK Operation Hubs, KSK Food Bank Programme, KSK Donate and KSK Volunteering in Penang, read 2026-10-14.

Lighthouse

The Star reported in September 2026 that the Lighthouse Thrift Store on Jalan Penang sells donated preloved items to raise funds for Lighthouse's programmes, including a soup kitchen open to all regardless of background. The report gives no address for the soup kitchen, no meal times and no contact.

Source: The Star, 9 September 2026, read 2026-10-14.

Federal food aid

The federal Ihsan MADANI portal, run by the national cost of living council (NACCOL), lists aid initiatives by category, including federal and state schemes. Its food category (Inisiatif Makanan) covers food aid and basic needs for families, and its Semak Bantuan Khusus page lets you search initiatives by category.

Source: Ihsan MADANI, read 2026-10-14.

Before you give food

Ask first what the organisation needs: a Lighthouse Thrift Store staff member told The Star that donors should check with staff what items are needed before donating. None of the groups above publishes a list of the food it wants from the public.
KSK takes near-expiry dry goods from business partners; it does not say whether it takes them from individuals.
For clothes and household items, see Donate clothes and household items.