The Community pantry that Ana Patricia “Patreng” Non started on Maginhawa street is an example of something good and noble coming out of adversity.
The slogan ”Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan , kumuha batay sa pangangailangan” painted on a cardboard on a bamboo cart filled with donated vegetable, rice, canned good and other needs captured the needs of the Covid-19- induced pandemic.
Those who have more shared with those who have less.
Soon it inspired a bandwagon of similar initiatives in other parts of the country. Like sisters Caridad Lanuang and Jeanet Mendoza from Barangay Maahas in Los Baños, Laguna who, with the help of volunteers, set up their own community pantry to help their neighbors and other barangay residents.
Caridad, the elder sister said “ Nangarap ako noong mga nakaraang araw at naisip kong ma-gumpisa ng sarili naming community pantry using our own money.”
In the early morning of April 20, 2021 they started giving away free vegetables, eggs, cooking oil and other daily essentials after announcing online the “Maahas Community pantry.” Many came. Early birds got their ample share of the goods. Late comers found only empty plastic containers.
Caridad and Jeanet said the Community pantry will be back on Saturday with even more essentials.
Meanwhile, Malacañang and the Department of Interior and Local Government had to clarify that there are no orders to investigate Community Pantries amid red-tag allegations in some government online accounts.
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