ACTOR Alden Richards continues to provide scholarships to the underprivileged, saying that helping poor children is his “food for the soul.”

Richards has been providing assistance to deserving students in eight years.

“It’s my food for the soul. Sometimes, in life, when you do the same things over and over again, burnout is always there. To get rid of that burnout, I find scholars or extend help to different foundations. But I don’t tell them it’s me—I ask others for help and do it for me,” he said.

Richards shared that he experienced not being able to go to school because of poverty.

“Poverty is a hindrance to education. I know how it feels wanting to go to school, but not having the means to do so. I experienced that when I was younger. And I don’t want that to happen to kids today. With this cause, I hope I can help break the cycle,” he said.

Richards has sent 14 students to school – two of them have just finished their degrees in computer technology and electrical energy. The others are in kindergarten and college.

“Granting scholarships is just the first stage. We have bigger plans in the coming years,” the actor said.

“We want holistic development for the kids,” he added.