Anchored on the principle of “Kuha sa Kinahanglan, Hatag sa Masarangan” (“Take what you need, Share what you can give”), just this week, an individual started a people’s initiative called “Community Pantry”, a food cart or table with canned goods, vegetables, rice packs, etc. mounted along the streets where people can just get on what they need.
Although Caritas and ARCORES Filipinas already started ‘Kindness Stations’ and ‘Kindness Bakery’, we are now supporting Community Pantries in the islands of Cebu, Bohol and Sipaway. The Community Pantry is the best way to address hunger in the country. This initiative was replicated around the country and sparked a most likely ‘kindness revolution.’ Few days after, the military wanted to curtail and limit the sprouting ‘community pantries’ accusing the organizers as activists.
This initiative is the answer to the basic principle of charity on which Vatican II encourages: “The best way to fulfill one’s obligations of justice and love is to contribute to the common good according to one’s means and the needs of others, and also to promote and help public and private organizations devoted to bettering the conditions of life.” [Gaudium et Spes, nº30. 1965].
Just this week, an individual started a people’s initiative called ‘Community Pantry’, a food cart or table with canned goods, vegetables, rice packs, etc. mounted along the streets where people can just get on what they need.