File photo shows people visiting the Maginhawa Community Pantry initiated by Ana Patricia Non earlier this year. (INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines — Ninety-five percent of community pantry volunteers in Diliman, Quezon City have been vaccinated against COVID-19, pioneer organizer Patricia “Patreng” Non said on Monday.
“Ngayon dumadating po ‘yung bagong variants, karamihan sa mga volunteers natin sa Diliman, I think last count ko po 95 percent vaccinated po tayo. Twenty-two pantries po ‘yun within Diliman area. So, ready po talaga lahat,” Non said in a virtual press conference.
(With the emergence of the new variants emerge, most of our volunteers in Diliman, I think as of last count, 95 percent are vaccinated. We have 22 pantries within Diliman area. So, we are ready.)
Non, who started the Maginhawa Community Pantry that influenced others to follow suit, said that community pantry organizers are ready to continue operations despite the rising COVID-19 cases.
(Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer / file photo)
She added that the Community Pantry PH, a network of community pantries in the country, is prepared to extend assistance despite the imposition of lockdown amid the surge in COVID-19 infections.
“Nung nagkaroon po ng lockdown ulit, ready po actually ‘yung Community Pantry PH pa’no siya haharapin kasi tumataas ‘yung cases,” Non said.
(When there was a lockdowns were imposed anew, the Community Pantry PH was actually ready to face the rising COVID-19 cases.)
Non recalled that there are volunteers who are willing to go house-to-house to deliver basic goods.
“Ang nangyari po nag-meeting kami, pinakinggan po namin sila, ang dami pong willing na mag-house-to-house. May mga nakipag-partner sa bikers. Meron pong mga tricycle drivers nagsabing sila maghahatid. Tapos may ready-to-eat meals na,” Non said.
(We had a meeting, we listened to them, many were willing to go house-to-house. There were also those who partnered with bikers. There were tricycle drivers who said that they would deliver the goods. There are also ready-to-eat meals.)
According to Non, another strategy that some community pantries carried out was the green-red cloth scheme wherein those who have something to donate will wave a green cloth while those who need supplies will wave a red cloth and will be approached by volunteers.
To date, there are around 6,700 community pantries set up nationwide, Non said.
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