It started with one unselfish soul who thought of helping those jeepney drivers who lost their jobs since the start of the pandemic. Some of them are totally jobless now.
A kind soul put up some items on a makeshift table – veggies, rice, canned goods, condiments and other goods and several sacks of sweet potatoes were donated by some farmers from Tarlac province. It is not just a cart of produce but a powerful gesture that has come out during this pandemic when so many Filipinos don’t have the means to feed themselves and their families. Neighbors brought their own donations.
The concept started four days ago and many community pantries had sprung up in various neighborhood. The idea is simple, you can get what you need for free.
It goes by the tenet, Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan” which simply means “give whatever you can, take only what you need”.
Even the fishermen have donated their fresh catch to help. Here are just a few of those who put up their pantries in their own community.
Kindness begets kindness. If ordinary citizens can do this, why not those in power? It is spreading sunshine into other people’s lives regardless of the weather.
Dreams And Escapes 
Nice to see that, Arlene. Over here, we have charitable ‘Food banks’ that operate all year round for anyone too poor to buy enough food.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_bank
Best wishes, Pete.
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What a marvelous thing to help each other like that!!
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I agree Anne. People are so kind.
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Thanks Pete. One good thing about this is, it is not funded by any government institution . Every donation comes from the hearts of people who have something to share.
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Thanks for blogging this Arlene. It lifts up my spirit and also reminds me to buy a few things this week for the food pantries in our area.
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Hi Kathy, you’re welcome. Isn’t it lovely if people would be generous enough to share?
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Yes, generosity lifts everyone up…those who receive and those who give.
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You have a generous , kind heart. Our world needs more act of kindness instead of what we read in the news or social media.
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Last time I read the news, there are more than 350 community pantries all over.
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We need more kindness and generosity more than ever. People are suffering, hungry, dying yet only a few see it and do something. God bless those who are trying to make things better.
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SOBRA na IT. If these government officials could see how the ordinary people are helping each other, they’ll probably change their priorities, instead of corruption, they would help. Red-tagging? What for? Para may files sila in their future moves. Bakit mo pipigilan ang mga taong tumutulong sa mamamayan?
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Corruption is frustrating & its every where. Some are just subtle, others in our face & nothing we can do cause power and money rules. Stay safe.
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Here people have been putting out refrigerators with food to take and cupboards with dry goods. I love that it is all just people helping other people.
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At first, this administration was red-tagging those who put up several community pantries but the protest on social media was so loud. You don’t need permission to be kind to others, right. A die-hard duterte lacky is branding them communists. This govt. is suddenly insecure that kind-hearted individuals are doing what they can’t do to help the needy.
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