In the past week, Filipinos have been setting up their own makeshift pantries to help their respective communities get the goods they need while on quarantine.
This comes after Ana Patricia “Patreng” Non set up her own bamboo cart in Maginhawa, Quezon City, filled with basic necessities such as vegetables, rice, canned goods, face masks, and alcohol. The cart came with two small cardboard signs – one that read “Maginhawa Community Pantry,” and the other that outlined the pantry’s simple working principle: “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan.” (From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.)
Non’s community pantry quickly became viral on social media and garnered significant media coverage. Residents from nearby areas flocked to the pantry over the weekend, and they received donations from farmers in places as far as Paniqui, Tarlac.
The project has since inspired other Filipinos to start similar initiatives in their areas to keep each other afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked what advice she could give to encourage others to set up their own pantries, Non emphasized such initiatives require a “community effort” and cannot be sustained by a single person alone.
“Kung buong community ang tutulong masu-sustain siya, hindi imposible…. Hangga’t may nangangailangan, hangga’t may nagbibigay rin,” Non said.
(If the whole community works together, it will be sustained. It’s not impossible. It will work as long as there are people in need and there are those willing to give.)
Here are a few other places where you can donate goods and basic necessities:
P. Noval St, Manila
Matiyaga St, Quezon City
Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Those who want to give cash donations for the Loyola Heights Community Pantry may send any amount to 09053334599 via GCash.
Matatag St, Quezon City
The Matatag Community Pantry also includes contact numbers to women’s groups for residents to report incidents of violence against women, as well as contact numbers to clinics for free HIV testing.
Batong Malake, Los Baños, Laguna
Sta Cruz, Laguna
The Sta Cruz Community Food Pantry is open from 10 AM to 6 PM.
P. Laygo St, Lipa City, Batangas
If you’re planning to set up a community pantry in your area, here’s how you can get started. Feel free to share photos and videos of your pantries and tag us at @MovePH and @rapplerdotcom on Twitter and use the hashtag #CommunityPantry. – Rappler.com