Utuyam Catering Services has pledged that 10% of its sales will go towards the Port Moresby General Hospital under the ‘Friends of POM GEN’ Emergency appeal to help with purchasing masks and gloves and necessary items needed for the patients and staffs that are essential during this time as the COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the Nation’s Capital.
Clare Tomdia Lokes, 30, from Kiriwina village in the Trobriand Islands in the Milne Bay Province is a Medical Doctor by profession and is currently the Director of Medical Education at the School of Medical Health Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea.
She is married with two (2) daughters. Her husband John Lokes works as an Airline Officer with Air Niugini.
“Our first Reach out 2021 is a way of establishing that essence of Utuyam or “Star” being luminous in the dark to all, so you just have to reach out and acknowledge that the Friends of Port Moresby General Hospital have reached out and we want, though little as it may be, respond to that.”
Utuyam in Biga Kilivila, the local dialect in Kiriwina means ‘Star’ and with the slogan ‘You only have to reach out’ captures the essence of how Clare foresees her business forging relationships and creating networks that is beyond just food and entertainment.
Clare said that Utuyam Catering & Entertainment was created out of her passion for Cooking and Music with a notion that food and Music essentially provides an avenue for enrichment.
“Food has been in human history a centre piece for most, if not all occasions and we celebrate with food, we mourn with food, food is comfort, food is nourishment.”
She added that sharing food breaks barriers and creates relationships in so many ways and Music and Entertainment are alike, they both find expressions in our lives.
Since 2017, Clare has been cooking and selling, mostly office catering and also random food stalls, however this year she has decided to take the passion and build something tangible, and fulfilling for her and her family.
Clare has big plans for Utuyam Catering Services and she always wanted for it to be more than just a business.
“So we plan for Utuyam to become more than just a catering business, but also an Event Service provider, the full package to one’s event needs.”
Clare said she will be hosting another fundraiser this Saturday the 20th March 2021 and the venue will be confirmed on their Facebook Page Utuyam.
“I would like to also encourage those who come by or others who wish to, to donate something that the Port Moresby General Hospital has appealed for in their flyer, like masks, gloves and beddings.”