The community pantry concept which started on April 14 in Maginhawa St. in Diliman, Quezon City to help people displaced by COVID-19 is fast spreading in Negros Oriental.
Started last Wednesday, April 22, which was internationally observed as Earth Day, community pantries sprouted in barangays Bantayan and Piapi in Dumaguete City, and in Poblacion, Tanjay.
Merci Ferrer, one of the organizers of the community pantry in barangay Bantayan, said some 200 individuals went to the community pantry, and got provisions for their meals for one or two days.
She recounted that shortly after 7 a.m., there were already volunteer sweepers cleaning the area. Contributions from within the neighborhood also continued to arrive even as they had started to operate: a little boy came carrying heaps of malunggay branches he had harvested himself; a mother brought a plastic of instant noodles and canned goods, and apologized profusely those were all she could afford; residents of Bantayan helped in managing the crowd, and ensured safety protocols were observed.
Ferrer expressed hope this initiative would encourage more individuals or organizations to extend help in whatever way they can, and stand in solidarity especially with the most vulnerable sector of our community.
Over in barangay Piapi, Climate Reality Project leader Rochelle Marie Remollo and her friends opened their community pantry at 9:30 am, and their fresh fruits, vegetables, canned goods, and condiments were gone in about 30 minutes.
She said all those who helped out here were inspired by Ana Patricia Non’s initiative in Maginhawa. “They wanted to be part of the narrative of Filipinos helping each other.”
The Climate Reality Project said the climate advocacy is also a social justice movement. “It is not one to ignore the plight and urgent needs of our communities. It’s all about empowerment–to lift each other up, even by just helping them get back on their feet to survive another day.” It encouraged the climate advocates to also “take part in this bayanihan effort to serve our communities… we Filipinos are compassionate, generous, and benevolent people. And we shouldn’t be hindered in all our efforts, especially if it’s for a good cause.”
Rochelle said they plan to do this once every two weeks in different areas, and welcome other donors to share foodstuff what they can.
“This government has failed, and people are hungry,” said Atty. Golda Benjamin in her social media post, after learning of the initiatives of the local volunteers.
Benjamin called on the community pantry volunteers not to be afraid, even as the government’s solution is to shut down community pantries that are feeding the hungry.
“Open your yards and host community pantries if you can. Contribute. Church leaders, host pantries on church grounds. Schools, do it for your own guards, janitors, and other staff who need food. Let compassion be our resistance against this heartless government,” she urged the public.
Over in Tanjay City, Barangay 6 Councilor Yul Yarden Yee organized what she called a Kindness Station, which was also well received.
“I am constantly reminded there are good people everywhere — people helping one another. This is what it means to be a community,” she noted in her social media post.
She called on donors to never underestimate the impact of their kindness. “You never know whose day you’ve just made a little easier,” she said.
