Matahari holds social activities<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Matahari Department Stores, one of the country's
\nmajor retail business companies, is holding a series of social
\nactivities, ranging from providing scholarships to students of
\npoor families to giving used clothes to street children, in
\nconjunction with its 40th anniversary.<\/p>\n
The peak of the activities was highlighted at a ceremony at
\nPasar Baru Galeria in Central Jakarta on Saturday by the handing
\nover of scholarships worth hundreds of millions of rupiah on
\nSaturday to 1,025 children of Matahari employees.<\/p>\n
At least 802 of the scholarships, symbolically handed over to
\nthree representatives, are for elementary students, 136 for
\njunior high schools and 87 for senior high school students.<\/p>\n
At the ceremony the Matahari management also ran a blood
\ndonation session involving 250 employees in cooperation with the
\nJakarta chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross. They also handed
\nover used clothes to street children living at the Ministry of
\nSocial Services' Setia Kawan I and II shelter homes.<\/p>\n
\"The used clothes were collected from both the employees and
\nthe company's suppliers,\" company executive Hari Darmawan said,
\nadding that Matahari would accept used clothes from the public
\nfor street children until Dec. 31.<\/p>\n
Hari said the company would continue to expand its operations
\nby opening three new outlets, in Cilegon, Sukabumi and Cianjur in
\nWest Java, next year despite the monetary crisis.<\/p>\n
He said that two other outlets had recently been opened in
\nBogor in West Java and Samarinda in East Kalimantan following
\nmajor riots which rocked the two cities earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Six Matahari stores were damaged and burned during the riots,
\ncausing losses of Rp 80 billion (US$10 million).<\/p>\n
He expressed confidence that customers would flock to the
\ndepartment stores despite their falling purchasing power as
\npeople would prioritize the food staples the stores provided
\nrather than clothes or home appliances.<\/p>\n
\"We are not afraid of any reduction in sales at all. Many
\nIndonesians are still rich and have big savings,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I'm sure that those who are not loaded are accustomed to low-
\ncost living. They could balance their spending between food and
\nother necessary goods,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Matahari currently operates more than 70 outlets in 32 cities
\nacross the country with total floor space of more than 600,000
\nsquare meters.<\/p>\n
Hari also stressed there would be enough food and other goods
\nto meet pubic demand during the upcoming Christmas and Idul Fitri
\nholiday seasons.<\/p>\n
\"The stocks are sufficient, and the clothing ranges are still
\nin fashion,\" he said. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/matahari-holds-social-activities-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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