A Catholic businesswoman was recognized for her pioneering efforts to reduce food waste while supporting the poor in Thailand.
Mary Sarindhorn Mativachranon, founder of the VV Share Foundation and the only Catholic honoree, was named one of six winners by the Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Association of Thailand (FBPWAT), under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen.
The awards aimed to showcase the successes of women in business.
“In essence, my work involves challenging the status quo, whether that means persuading supermarket executives of the benefits of redirecting food that would otherwise be wasted to feed the poor and children’s centers,” said Mary Sarindhorn.
Her charitable endeavors began in 2013, after she and an Ursuline sister in Bangkok installed a water pipe system for an impoverished village in Cambodia.
Inspired by discussions about equality, they conceived the idea of setting up a “Soup Kitchen” to help the destitute in Thailand.
Sadly, the sister passed away before the plan could be realized, leaving Mary with only a glimmer of this unfulfilled dream.
Five years ago, Mary learned about a French law that criminalized food waste. Reminiscing about the sister’s vision, she shared the idea with friends, who showed keen interest in supporting the cause.
To Mary’s delight, she was granted a private audience with Pope Francis during his 2019 visit to Thailand, where she presented a letter outlining her plan to start an organization to divert food that would otherwise be thrown away by supermarkets to the poor.
The Pope responded with a personal letter imparting his blessings on the project, fueling Mary’s confidence in its success.
Registered as the VV Share Foundation, the organization’s name is derived from the words “Viands” and “Victuals,” meaning food and provisions.
“The word ‘Victual’ appears in 32 verses in the Bible,” Mary noted.
Three years ago, the first VV truck began collecting food donations from supermarkets and other suppliers to feed over a thousand people in eight communities and a children’s center.
The greatest challenge, Mary explained, has been convincing industry leaders to participate in the project.
However, with the support of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, as well as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the foundation has been able to raise awareness and funds, emphasizing professionalism, transparency, and accountability.
“I see this as a new Evangelization,” said Mary Sarindhorn, who has been inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which emphasizes the moral imperative to care for the Earth, our common home, and the inherent dignity of all people, especially the marginalized.
The FBPWAT initially recognized Mary’s pioneering entrepreneurial spirit, and later, with the cooperation of the United Nations Development Program and USAID Southeast Asia Smart Power Program, decided to include environmental stewardship as part of the award.
“This award reassures me that we are on the right path,” said Mary. “We hope that by being recognized in this public way, our work will reach new supporters who will be inspired to do more for the Earth and our society.”