SHAH ALAM, June 15 — Rising living costs have driven up demand for food aid, with The Lost Food Project (TLFP) recording a 35 to 40 per cent increase in the number of families seeking assistance between 2025 and 2026.
NST reported that the organisation currently supports over 36,000 B40 families across 180 locations, including People’s Housing Projects, charities and civil society groups, providing over 150,000 meals weekly.
TLFP general manager Stuart Galvin said the trend of rising demand from low-income communities has accelerated since 2024.
“In early 2024, we reported a 30 per cent increase in demand. Through 2025 and into 2026, that trend has only accelerated. We estimate demand has grown by approximately 35-40 per cent over the past two years.
“Several factors are driving this, primarily the rising cost of living, which continues to squeeze B40 households who already spend over a third of their income on food,” he said.
TLFP is a local not-for-profit organisation dedicated to a sustainable future by rescuing “lost” food and finding it a new home with people who need it most.
The organisation, which has operated for 11 years, rescued 2.9 million kg of food from rotting in landfills in 2025, converting potential environmental hazards into 8.5 million meals for needy communities.
It distributes to a wide network of partners, including 92 charities in the Klang Valley, 10 in Johor Bahru, and two in Penang. It also operates at 28 active locations and 26 ad-hoc sub-beneficiary sites.
Galvin added that the TLFP is exploring the possibility of expanding its operations further.
“Of the food we distribute, 35 per cent is for charities, such as soup kitchens, children's homes, and homeless shelters. The remaining 65 per cent is delivered to 50 PPRs and B40 communities on a rotational basis,” he said.
Dry goods are sourced from over 50 distributors, manufacturers, and grocers, while fresh produce is sourced from the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market.
“We also receive non-food essentials to combat hygiene and period poverty, such as sanitary towels, toothbrushes, shampoo, and detergents,” Galvin said.
