Maginhawa's Free Pantry Gets Kamote From Tarlac Farmers, As More Open Around the Country

Kindness from as far as Tarlac reached Quezon City on Friday, as kamote farmers of Paniqui town pitched in their share at the Maginhawa Community Pantry that is free for everyone.

Resident Ana Patricia Non, the brains behind the viral initiative, shared on Facebook a photo of the bamboo cart she put up last Wednesday that is now filled with bags of sweet potatoes, instead of the usual type of relief goods.

Farmers have been donating part of their produce since the start of the pandemic even if they don't have much themselves, Nadja de Vera, deputy secretary general of Anakpawis that facilitated the donation, told reportr.

 "Ever since po nagdodonate talaga ang mga farmers from our chapters kahit nung start ng pandemic, typhoon Ulysses, etc. Ang rason naman nila palagi ay alam daw kasi nila ang hirap ng walang laman ang sikmura," she said.

De Vera said constant donations from member farmers all over Bulacan and even those from Purok Amorsolo, Brgy. UP Campus have led their group to establish "Tulong Anakpawis", a community kitchen program catering to several areas in Quezon City.  

 Non, who started the Maginhawa pantry, is one of their volunteers, said de Vera.

Non earlier said the idea sprung from her frustrations at the government's slow response to the pandemic.

"Ang taas ng unemployment rate, ang haba ng pila sa ayuda, tapos gutom na talaga 'yong mga Pinoy. Matagal na [rin] tapos nagde-demand pero kulang talaga 'yong dumadating. Kaya parang kailangan talaga natin magtulungan," she told SPOT.ph.

Since going viral, donations at the Maginhawa Community Pantry continue to flow, keeping the cart replenished and likewise inspiring other communities to do the same. As of April 16, two new community pantries have been set up: one in P. Noval St., Sampaloc, Manila and the other in Matiyaga St., Brgy. Pinyahan, Quezon City. As of April 18, pantries in the following locations have also opened: Project 8, Quezon City; Iligan City, Sucat, Muntinlupa; and Brgy Tinio, Cabanatuan City, among others. 

This story originally appeared on Reportr.world.

* Minor edits have been made by the Realliving.com.ph editors.