Residents Benefit from Work and Nutrition Support at Polri Palmerah Food Distribution Centre

The presence of the Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) or Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) kitchen has provided significant benefits to surrounding residents. The SPPG creates employment opportunities for residents who are struggling to find work.

The SPPG Polri Palmerah demonstrates the direct impact this facility has on local Palmerah residents. Beyond providing nutrition for children, toddlers, and pregnant women, the SPPG Polri Palmerah has become a livelihood source for many residents.

One resident benefiting from the SPPG Polri Palmerah is Wulan, whose home is located in the Palmerah Barat area, close to the facility. Wulan, previously a housewife, has become both a mother and spouse while contributing to her family’s economic needs.

“There are so many benefits I’ve obtained,” Wulan said when speaking to detikcom at SPPG Polri Palmerah in West Jakarta on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

Wulan’s benefits extend beyond her income from the work. Her toddler also benefits from the MBG managed by the SPPG Polri Palmerah, where Wulan is employed.

“My child is also a beneficiary because she’s still registered with the local posyandu health centre. So we feel greatly helped. The mother gets income, and the child gets the MBG prepared by the mother,” Wulan explained.

Wulan is one of the volunteers experiencing the transition from the pre-Ramadan period to the fasting month. She acknowledged facing particular challenges when working whilst fasting.

“The challenge for me during Ramadan is really just the fasting itself. So it’s more… when the morning meal time passes, maybe you think, ‘oh I’m thirsty’. The fatigue is a bit more noticeable, but after that it’s quite enjoyable,” Wulan said.

Another challenge Wulan faces as part of the packaging team is being careful and meticulous when packaging food for distribution to beneficiaries. During Ramadan, packaging uses plastic bags, requiring proper sealing and careful measurement to ensure portions are equal.

“The real difference is just the location and method. With the usual containers, we just pour the food. With plastic bags, we need to wear hand gloves, place the food carefully into the plastic, and the portions must be fair—no one gets more or less. It must be adequate and properly weighed,” she said.

Another volunteer benefiting from SPPG Polri Palmerah is Akrom, who joined after experiencing retrenchment from his previous employer.

“I previously received catering orders in the food business. There was even a micro enterprise from Palmerah subdistrict with proper licensing that was operating. However, after the retrenchment, there was no work,” Akrom said.

Akrom learned about the job opening at SPPG Polri Palmerah from the local police station and immediately applied, eventually joining the cooking team. Through this work, Akrom is again able to support his family. He expressed satisfaction with serving at SPPG Polri Palmerah because, beyond earning income, he feels he is benefiting many people through his work.

“The benefit for me personally is that what I usually do can benefit schoolchildren. Alhamdulillah, the income is sufficient for us,” Akrom said.

Mustaqim, Head of SPPG Polri Palmerah, stated that during Ramadan, volunteers are not given heavy workloads. He explained that work patterns are designed efficiently.

“For volunteer work schedules, we manage human resources as best as possible. We do not give heavy workloads like normal days because we recognise that many volunteers are fasting. So we conduct production as efficiently as possible,” Mustaqim said.

“We implement efficient working hours and advance the schedule, so they can work comfortably whilst maintaining their fasting observance,” he added.