A single act of kindness was turned into a national phenomenon to help fellow Filipinos during the pandemic – the community pantry.
A small table beside the road loaded with vegetables and goods in Maginhawa, Quezon City rekindled the hearts of Filipinos to reach out to people during the health crisis. Patricia Non, 26, initiated the distribution of free goods by setting the roadside community pantry with a sign bearing “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan.”
This act of humanity encourages people to give what they can and take according to what they need. The initiative was multiplied to different versions around the country after a day it went viral on social media.
Holy Cross College the school with a heart was among the first educational institution that participated in the initiative by launching the HCC Caritas Pantry last April 21.
“Ito ang pinakafirst community pantry sa ating town proper (Santa Ana), ito po ay isang pagkakataon na lahat ng stakeholders iyong tinatawag nating community ay magtulong-tulong gaya po ng mga magulang, estudyante, board of directors, management, mga teachers, and alumni of Holy Cross College. Isa po itong magandang venue para sa tinatawag nating ‘Diwa ng Bayanihan,’ para sa mga cabalen ng Santa Ana, Pampanga,” Student Affairs and Services Division Dean Benjie Nolasco said.
The HCC organized a two-week Caritas Pantry to cater to the needs of the residents, two to three barangays were scheduled per day to adhere to IATF guidelines and health protocols.
Residents who visited the pantry were assisted by school employees from contact tracing, waiting area, and pantry area. The HCC Caritas Pantry was opened from 8:00 in the morning until 11:00 or until the supplies are available.
“Nakastation doon ang nurse natin and internal security, nagfill up sila ng contact tracing form at kinuhanan ng body temperature para ma-ensure na walang symptoms ng COVID-19, we need to ensure their safety was well, may foot bath din po diyan,” Community Extension Program Head, Director Amiel Lazatin explained.
During the two-week community pantry of HCC, people heed the call to help the community by sending their donations (in-kind and cash). Alumni, employees, students, and Parent Teachers Association (PTA) also shared goods for the Caritas Pantry.
The pantry was loaded with vegetables, eggs, goods, and rice donated by more than a hundred individuals and Alumni groups to support the initiative.
“It is a team effort, nakita naman na kapag team effort iyan laging successful. Maraming mga employees na nagcommit ng salary deduction kita niyo naman po, iyan po ang nagiging kalakaran sa Holy Cross College ang magbigay ng ayon sa puso,” HCC President, Atty. Dennis C. Pangan said.
The community pantry is a result of filling the gap between slow government programs to assist citizens during a health crisis. It is a wake-up call to government officials to act and help their fellow.
During its 14 day operation, HCC Caritas Pantry had a total of 2,192 recipients.
Despite the uniqueness and resilience of the Filipinos, leaders must also share their contributions amid pandemics.
In the recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey last 2020 during the pandemic, about 7.6 million households in the Philippines experienced hunger, this is the highest hunger rate since March 2012.
“Ako naman hindi ko binabatikos ang gobyerno dito, pero talagang may kabagalan ng kaunti. Naiinip ang mga tao hindi naman puwedeng maghintay ang mga tao na walang makain. Nagagalit tayo na iyong mga tao lumalabas pero ano ba ang kakainin ng tao kung isasara mo sa bahay kung wala namang laman ang sikmura,” Atty. Pangan said.
“Sana lang po ang mga nanunungkulan sa gobyerno, nahihirapan na rin ang Pangulo, sana makita naming na ang mga spearhead at mamumuno, in kapampangan, ‘Reta sanang manimuna anti kanining masanting a gawa ne, reta mismong manungkulan, aliwa itang panaun ning pandemiya, makasalikut ko pu, eko pu sasalikut,” he added.
In pursuit of HCC core values Caritas or Charity, the school with a heart vowed to continue reaching out to the community through a small act of kindness and joining initiatives that will mobilize people to help others in times of crisis.