A TEACHER in Tondo, Manila who was also bitten by the community pantry bug tapped her family, relatives and friends to set up the first community pantry in their community.

Gianelli Kryas J. Manrique, an English teacher of Lakandula High School, said she was motivated by the acts of ordinary people to extend help to those in need.

“Na-hype kami sa good deeds na sinimulan ng maraming ordinaryong tao. Eh ordinaryo rin kami. Isa pa, noong time na ‘yun, wala pang gumagawa sa Tondo kaya naisip naming mag-put up,” Manrique said.

She said that some members of the community also gave donations even though they were also in need.

“Gaya ng community pantry sa ibang mga lugar, sumandig kami sa komunidad talaga. Sa tulong ng mga kaibigan, kaguro, kamag-anak at kahit hindi naman talaga kakilala ay nagbibigay. ‘Yun ang nakatutuwa. At sa tuwing nagpo-post sa social media at nakikita ang camaraderie, talagang dumadagsa ang tulong,” she said.

She added that the initiative was also an opportunity to mobilize and unite other residents to address common issues faced by the people in their neighborhood.

“‘Yung komunidad kasi, sama-samang gumagalaw ‘yan. Nakararanas ng sama-samang epekto. Kung ang epektong nararanasan ng komunidad ay maganda tulad ng naidudulot ng community pantry, wala sigurong komunidad na nagkakanya-kanya. Walang nangingibabaw na personal na interest,” she explained.

Manrique said that they were able to sustain their community pantry because donations kept coming.