Tourist pub in Thailand turns into free kitchen for jobless due to coronavirus

By Juarawee Kittisilpa, Vorasit Satienlerk

 

Empty chairs are seen on a beach, which is usually full of tourists, amid fears of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Pattaya, Thailand, March 27, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

PATTAYA, Thailand (Reuters) - The coronavirus pandemic has turned a pub in Thailand’s famed seaside resort town of Pattaya into a community kitchen serving free food for workers who have lost jobs when the global tourism industry ground to a halt.

 

Surajai Attanart, owner of the Differ Night Pub, and his workers feed up to 1,000 residents who have fallen on hard times due to a pandemic that has infected 500,000 worldwide, killed more than 24,000 and prompted many countries to close borders.

 

Thailand’s measures to suppress the spread of the highly infectious respiratory disease have left many without jobs as many businesses, mainly in entertainment and spas, were closed down. Like many others, Surajai’s business is hurting, but he wanted to contribute to the community.

 

“On our part, we’re giving out free food to people who have borne the brunt of the situation. At least, (this way), they can save around 40 to 50 baht (about $1.50) for a meal per day, adding a lifeline for them,” Surajai, 43, told Reuters.

 

About a thousand lunch boxes are packed daily in the pub’s kitchen, where dozens of the remaining workers gather to prepare ready-to-eat meals.

 

Hundreds of residents lined up for free food, where they were told to stand an arm’s length apart as part of social distancing efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.

 

“I heard that they were giving out free food here, so I quickly came,” said Patchanee Kamsiang, who became jobless after the hotel where she worked shut down.

 

The Thai government on Sunday closed department stores, malls, dine-in restaurants, entertainment venues and other public places for several weeks in major cities. Virus infections climbed to over 1,000 cases by Thursday.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-27

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US great depression bread lines and soup kitchens Thai style.

Edited March 27, 20206 yr by NCC1701A

This same selfless compassion for folks going through hard times is being played out in cities around the world.

 

Restaurants, bars, and civic organizations have geared up and retooled to provide free lunches to those in need.

 

Worst of times brings out the best in some people...

Top Man Kuhn Surajai ????

The social distancing on beaches looks very successful !

15 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

Worst of times brings out the best in some people...

Shame it doesn't bring out the best in governments and politicians also. 

 

These initiatives should have government funding. 

12 hours ago, Leaver said:

Shame it doesn't bring out the best in governments and politicians also. 

 

These initiatives should have government funding. 

Put it on a list of places that we should all visit and spend some money when this is over?

If only this goodwill would extend to the roads.

The Thai BBQ place opposite Patong fire station has been doing the same thing

Great story. Selfless and better from what the big clowns in charge can or would even ever do.

Good onya mate????????????

I can see this becoming fare more normal very soon.

 

Excellent way to support society.... many will suffer for a long time..

23 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

US great depression bread lines and soup kitchens Thai style.

A greater depression has crested the horizon.  Globally we ain't seen nothing yet.  But it's coming....stand-by. 

11 hours ago, animalmagic said:

Put it on a list of places that we should all visit and spend some money when this is over?

I remember when the tsunami hit Phuket.  The locals were begging tourists to come back.  As soon as they started to come back, the scams, rip offs, beatings, cheating, over charging, bill padding etc went straight back to normal, if not worse. 

3 hours ago, DJ54 said:

Excellent way to support society.... many will suffer for a long time..

 

Curious that the article doesn't exactly mention where the operator of the kitchen is getting the funds and/or the food to provide the daily meal handouts. You'd think that's something a journalist would include in this kind of article.

 

 

3 hours ago, connda said:

A greater depression has crested the horizon.  Globally we ain't seen nothing yet.  But it's coming....stand-by. 

Yes.  The GFC was just a prelude to what's up next.

4 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Curious that the article doesn't exactly mention where the operator of the kitchen is getting the funds and/or the food to provide the daily meal handouts. You'd think that's something a journalist would include in this kind of article.

 

 

I don’t think any rational thinking person would be wondering where he gets his funds or food from. Some people do perform good deeds from the kindness of their own hearts. 
Perhaps it’s his own money and he purchases his food from Makro. 

3 minutes ago, Tongjaw said:

I don’t think any rational thinking person would be wondering where he gets his funds or food from. Some people do perform good deeds from the kindness of their own hearts. 
Perhaps it’s his own money and he purchases his food from Makro. 

 

Actually, a rational person would wonder, since most individuals don't have the ability to support that kind of generosity out of their own pocket for any extended period of time.... unless they happen to be very wealthy, or there's some other explanation behind the scenes.

 

8 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Actually, a rational person would wonder, since most individuals don't have the ability to support that kind of generosity out of their own pocket for any extended period of time.... unless they happen to be very wealthy, or there's some other explanation behind the scenes.

 

So you don’t know this person or have any idea if he is wealthy or not. Why try to detract from the good deed him and his staff are doing? 

not an arm's length, should be at least two meters.  but most societies will NOT stand that far apart even if in a non moving line.  Too conditioned to close up spaces so not to lose their place or somebody cut in front

well intended but this boils down to a mass gathering and lots of people getting close to each other both in the line and as they go to and leave the place.  Horrible quarantine or social distancing