The abbot of Wat Lok Molee on the moat has announced that he has had to close the food and supplies line at the temple due to a number of people who are not truly in need abusing it.
Wat Lok Molee has played a key role in helping our city’s most vulnerable over the past pandemic. It has offered free food, life and work skill classes for free as well as other services and support for the destitute. A ‘Happiness Box’ has been set up in front of the temple, with people donating food and goods to it so that those in need can come help themselves.
Sadly, the abbot has had to announce today that the box will be moved inside the temple as there have been people whom he calls professional regulars who come to take items on a daily basis. He told CityNews that often it is simply the same people who come and sit there waiting to scoop up any new deliveries and he fears that these are not actual people in need. He is also concerned about the spread of Covid as long queues have been formed. From tomorrow onwards, he said, the temple will distribute sets of goods and food, ensuring only one set goes to each person.
The abbot said that it was disheartening to see some people so selfishly take everything they can, while knowing that there are people in greater need.
After 83 days of leaving the Happiness Box outside, it will now be closely monitored and distributed from inside the temple.