Community Pantry 'Monthsary': From one woman to a community of helpers | ABS-CBN
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Community Pantry 'Monthsary': From one woman to a community of helpers
Community Pantry 'Monthsary': From one woman to a community of helpers
ABS-CBN News
Published May 14, 2021 09:09 PM PHT
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Updated May 19, 2021 02:56 PM PHT
What started as one woman's desire to help neighbors in need has become a full-blown movement seeking to help the poor who have been experiencing more hardships as the COVID-19 pandemic remains unresolved after more than a year.
What started as one woman's desire to help neighbors in need has become a full-blown movement seeking to help the poor who have been experiencing more hardships as the COVID-19 pandemic remains unresolved after more than a year.
The initiative began with a humble wooden cart filled by Ana Patricia Non with vegetables and canned goods. Anyone who needed food to help tide them over their next meal could just pass by and pick up a few items.
The initiative began with a humble wooden cart filled by Ana Patricia Non with vegetables and canned goods. Anyone who needed food to help tide them over their next meal could just pass by and pick up a few items.
In a week's time, the pantries multiplied, starting from neighboring barangays in Quezon City, to pantries in villages elsewhere in Metro Manila, to several communities across the country.
In a week's time, the pantries multiplied, starting from neighboring barangays in Quezon City, to pantries in villages elsewhere in Metro Manila, to several communities across the country.
Fueled by the mantra, "Give what you can, take what you need," the movement gets its life not only from donations from the wealthy but even the the lowliest of donors such as street vendors and delivery boys who, despite getting some items for their needs, donate anything they can in return.
Fueled by the mantra, "Give what you can, take what you need," the movement gets its life not only from donations from the wealthy but even the the lowliest of donors such as street vendors and delivery boys who, despite getting some items for their needs, donate anything they can in return.
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The result is a relationship of mutual aid, where each participant helps prop up the rest thereby preventing the whole community from falling into despair. It's essentially the Filipino concept of 'bayanihan,' which is often depicted as a group of people carrying a traditional thatched house to a new location.
The result is a relationship of mutual aid, where each participant helps prop up the rest thereby preventing the whole community from falling into despair. It's essentially the Filipino concept of 'bayanihan,' which is often depicted as a group of people carrying a traditional thatched house to a new location.
But the movement has given rise to problems, including organizers being branded as communists supposedly because their mantra is rooted in the Marxist phrase, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."
But the movement has given rise to problems, including organizers being branded as communists supposedly because their mantra is rooted in the Marxist phrase, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."
Now a month old, the Maginhawa Community Pantry has evolved into a hub for relief supporting smaller community pantries with their needs.
Now a month old, the Maginhawa Community Pantry has evolved into a hub for relief supporting smaller community pantries with their needs.
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