As the Catholic world marked the IX World Day of the Poor on Nov. 16, Thailand’s VV Share Foundation announced expanded cooperation with government agencies to scale up its nationwide food-sharing program for the poor.
The lay-founded organization operates outside the official Church structure but is deeply inspired by Catholic social teaching.
This year’s observance, themed “You, my Lord, are my hope” (Ps 71:5), was marked in Rome by Pope Leo XIV, who reminded the world that poverty is not only a Christian concern but a universal moral responsibility.
“Poverty challenges not only Christians, but it also challenges all those who have positions of responsibility in society,” he said in his homily at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The poor, he added, “can become witnesses to a strong and reliable hope, precisely because it is professed in a precarious living condition.”
In Thailand, that message resonated deeply with the work of the VV Share Foundation, which has rapidly grown into one of the country’s most effective models for redistributing surplus food to the needy.
Vision rooted in compassion, promise
The heart behind VV Share is Mary Sarindhorn Mativachranon, known affectionately as Nui, a prominent Catholic business leader who responded to the hunger she witnessed in Bangkok’s poorest communities.
“The world of food runs parallel to the world of hunger,” she told LiCAS News. “Every day, food is discarded while people go to bed hungry. Bringing these two worlds together sounds simple, but it requires a system and a heart that loves humanity.”
Her vision began in 2013 during conversations with Sr. Mary Walter Santer, an Ursuline sister and teacher at Mater Dei School, Nui’s alma mater. Together, they dreamed of opening a soup kitchen for marginalized Thai families.
Before the project could begin, Sr. Walter passed away. But Nui made a quiet promise at her bedside: the work would continue.
Years passed. Then, in 2015, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 12.3 on reducing global food waste, reignited her determination.
Thailand soon incorporated these principles into its 20-Year National Strategy, which includes cutting food waste and promoting resource efficiency.
“It was as if God was saying, ‘Now is the time,’” Nui said.
Determined to create a lasting impact, Nui established the VV Share Foundation, built on three pillars: professionalism, transparency, and trustworthiness.
Its mission: to act as a central system transforming surplus but safe food from the business sector into meals for the poor while reducing food waste nationwide.
The operations began in 2021, eight years after her promise to Sr. Walter.
National impact: Hundreds of thousands fed
Since then, VV Share has grown into one of the country’s most effective food-rescue models. As of Oct. 31, 2025, the foundation had delivered 774,202 meals to the poor through partnerships with food businesses, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, Catholic priests, religious congregations, and volunteers.
The effort has grown so significantly that multiple government agencies, including the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, are finalizing an MOU with VV Share to expand its food-rescue operations into more provinces.
“The government now knows our work aligns with the national strategy to reduce food waste and support vulnerable communities,” Nui said. “Our model is practical, sustainable, and deeply rooted in compassion.”
Inspired by Catholic Teaching, Serving All
Although VV Share is not officially a Church organization, its DNA reflects the teachings of Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV: the ecological vision of Laudato Si’, the human-centered approach of synodality, and the Gospel mandate to care for “the least of these” (Mt 25:40).
“Our activities are fully aligned with the Church’s mission,” Nui said. “We are living the Gospel in Thai society, not only giving alms but taking concrete action to help the poor.”
Looking Ahead: Building a Culture of Sharing
VV Share’s next milestone is gaining tax-deductible donation status, which will allow the foundation to attract more donors and expand its network of partners.
“When this approval comes, we will be able to reach more provincial areas, serve more underprivileged families, and deepen Thailand’s culture of sharing,” Nui said. “Our hope is to bridge the gap between rich and poor and become a bridge of hope for those struggling to survive.”
As the Church marked the World Day of the Poor, VV Share presented its expanded food-rescue work as part of ongoing efforts to address hunger.
The foundation noted that food insecurity continues despite overall abundance due to limited redistribution and access.
