Pattaya community rallies to help those affected by COVID-19 pandemic

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Pattaya community rallies to help those affected by COVID-19 pandemic

 

 

Sometimes the most difficult of times can bring out the best of humanity.

 

In Pattaya, a city famed for its thriving tourism industry which has now been left decimated, the local community has rallied together to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Every day, scores of restaurants have been handing out free food and giving away free meals to thousands of people left out of work and out of pocket.

 

Part of the effort is being coordinated by Tim Burdis from the Devonshire restaurant on Soi Lengkee along with a team of volunteers via the Help Pattaya Facebook page.

 

 

The page includes listings of locations in Pattaya where food is being handed out for free. The information is updated daily and posted in Thai and English. 

 

The so-called ‘grey economy’ in Thailand means that many of the people working in the tourism sector in places like Pattaya do not qualify for government's financial assistance.

 

 

Pattaya City Hall's own figures suggest a GDP is about 75% tourism dependent.

 

In a city that has a permanent population of over 300,000, potentially hundreds of thousands of people in Pattaya have been left out of work due to COVID-19.

 

In order to continue with their generous work, the team behind the Help Pattaya Facebook page is asking for donations to provide food and shelter for those in Pattaya. 

 

 

Donations can be made by contacting Help Pattaya directly and for those who wish to donate funds, a Go Fund Me page has been created.

 

Help Pattaya Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HelpPattaya/

 

Go Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/7797g4-help-pattaya

 

Anyone interested in supporting or getting involved can contact Tim Burdis at the Devonshire: 0800400339

 

 

[sammieuk1]

With little help from governments it's down to people with big hearts and the well off with a conscience to help out good luck wherever you are stuck right now???? 

[scubascuba3]

Good to see free food being given out every day, many don't know where to get it though

[phantomfiddler]

Hats off to the Devonshire ! I have eaten there, and I have to say the the food was probably the best I have tasted in Pattaya, or anywhere else for that matter. I do not have shares or any stake in the restaurant, in fact I am a competitor, but I like to give credit where it is due ????

[OnTheGround]

[peterb17]

Also Mark at Hemingway’s , British Legion, Peter at Yupins and many bars 

All good . 

[OffshoreMig]

We were saddened yet pleased to see them handing out meal packages in Walking Street today.  The queues were long. These are tough times. Thailand can not afford to continue to endure this economic hardship for long.  We hope that the restrictions can be eased soon. Government and agents should take this time to reflect on their procedures and policies to try and ease the burden on Thai Citizens.  The Australian Government in particular can and should do more.

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, OffshoreMig said:

We were saddened yet pleased to see them handing out meal packages in Walking Street today.

Thailand was just on the UK's Sky News, and the focus was on the starving elephants... there are no tourists to feed them and 'food is expensive'....

[scandream]

Solidarity among people is very great in these crisis days. This deserves my deepest respect.  But unfortunately there are also people who simply use this free eating service to their advantage.  High-class cars drive up there, usually only occupied by two people, but use 4, 5 or even 6 menus.  I have already seen that cars stopped on the opposite side and sent children to get 2 or 3 meals.  I think this is an outrage. There are always parasites who try to enrich themselves with others. Very bad attitude of them.