By Dr. Rex Casiple
The community pantry is a notable phenomenon that suddenly struck the nation in the month of April 2021. This while millions of Filipinos are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccines and experiencing series of lockdowns in the different parts of the country.
Many poor Filipino families are suffering from hunger or nothing to eat due to series of lockdowns in which many lost their jobs that disabled them to feed their family. Many believed that these difficulties in life can be overcome by sharing and coming together.
The idea behind the community pantry was that people could take as much as they need and donate as much as they can. Filipinos have instituted their own community pantry movement in which many are willing to share resources to sustain it. This is a Filipino culture of Bayanihan Spirit that we need to understand, work and support each other with a common goal of fighting this pandemic and to survive.
There are now an estimated more than 350 community pantries all over the country. The success and failure of these pantries depend on their commitments and dedication. Popular community pantries in the country are that of Maginhawa Community Pantry in Laguna, Matiyaga Community Pantry in Diliman, Quezon City, Barangay Malake Community Pantry in Los Banos, Laguna, Valenzuela Community Pantry, Marikina Community Pantry and Bayombong Community Pantry in Nueva Vizcaya. The Bayombong Community Pantry was organized by a group of graduating college students committed to serving the country. Henceforth, there are new community pantries are being formed each day.
The concept behind community pantries is not new. School Pantry Programs are famous in the United States. Some universities in the United States developed food pantries to provide assistance to students in crippling debt back in 2013. The program distributed food to children and their families in the school. The program also provided an accessible source of food assistance to low-income students and their families. The program generally distributed fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, frozen meats, among others to students and their families. The distribution of goods was made after school, during weekends, and/or during out-of-school times such as during summer.
The task of community pantries in schools is to help relieve hunger by providing nutritious food to children and their families in convenient and familiar locations. It makes staple grocery items available to students and their household family members at no cost.
These community pantries in schools have big impacts to the community especially to the children in school. Proper nutrition is so vital to children especially those below eighteen (18) years old. At this younger age, their bodies and brains are developing and growing. And offering additional food to them can help support proper development, reduce stress and promote their well-being. In this way, students may better succeed in their education and in their life. Those are just a few reasons why campus-based food pantries are becoming quite popular in the United States.
In some provinces here in the Philippines we have also some recognized “community pantry for education” worthy for emulation by other schools. One school in Siniloan, Laguna was distributing free schools supplies given by Sangguniang Kabatan (SK) like ballpen, pencil, ruler, eraser, envelop and notebook. The school was also distributing free face masks. The school was also rendering free printing and photocopying. In the spirit of community pantry, the group is accepting school supplies donations from those who are willing to give, such, pencil, paper, notebook, eraser, etc. This is to help the poor students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whatever will happen to this country, our own Filipino culture will help us survive. The modern Bayanihan Spirit, known as Community Pantry, has fed more than 5,000 people. The mushrooming of community pantries across the country is a nationwide miracle.
