Millions of meals for communities hit by COVID-19 pandemic

The programme is implemented by the Central Committee of Vietnam Youth Federation, PepsiCo Vietnam, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage, CARE International in Vietnam and Aid for Social Protection Program Foundation Vietnam (AFV).

The Millions of Meals programme is a joint effort to deliver meals to communities impacted by COVID-19, initiated by global PepsiCo in 2020. Along with the message "Give Meals – Give Hope", the programme started on April 10, 2020 and has reached 18 provinces and cities affected by COVID-19. To date, the programme has distributed more than 736,000 meals worth more than VND11 billion ($478,260) to nearly 47,500 beneficiaries.

The Millions of Meals programme has reached 18 cities and provinces affected by COVID-19

To continue promoting the programme implementation in 2021, the global PepsiCo Foundation continues to support the programme by committing VND4.58 billion ($199,130) to provide free meals, along with products donated by Lay's and Pepsi brands equivalent to more than VND700 million ($30,430). This year, CARE International Vietnam, the Vietnam Youth Federation Central Committee, and AFV are joining hands to implement the programme.

At the first phase of this year, the partners will prioritise five provinces and cities, including Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Tinh, and Nghe An, to distribute 240,000 nutritious meals to approximately 16,000 people affected. The beneficiaries receiving support include underserved communities, especially people living in poverty, the elderly, the unemployed, informal workers, and workers who lost their income due to the pandemic and underserved students.

Not only bringing practical support, the programme also spreads positive messages of unity and solidarity

“The Millions of Meals programme is one of the concrete, practical actions of members, companies, and organisations in accompanying the country to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Nguyen Tuong Lam, secretary of the Central Youth Union and standing vice president of the Vietnam Youth Federation Central Committee. “With the message ‘Give Meals – Give Hope’, the organisers call for accompaniment and support from individuals and organisations to deliver more meals to people in need, with the belief that together we will soon overcome the pandemic.”

As a partner and active contributor, Sudipto Mozumdar, general manager and vice president of PepsiCo Indochina Food BU said: “PepsiCo Vietnam is honoured to continue collaborating with our partners to implement the Millions of Meals programme. In 2020, the programme directly distributed hundreds of thousands of meals to people who were the hardest-hit by COVID-19, along with communities affected by the historic flood in November 2020. This year, thanks to the PepsiCo Foundation and the support of key partners that have joined our movement, we are aiming to not leave anyone behind.”

The programme not only brings practical support, but also spreads positive messages of unity and solidarity, encouraging impacted communities and society at large to join hands to provide millions of meals to those most affected.