Maginhawa community pantry to resume operations on Monday

The Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City will be closed tomorrow, Sunday, and resume operations on Monday, April 26.

According to Vonn Aquino’s report on “24 Oras” Saturday, organizer Ana Patricia Non said the pantry would be open only from 6 a.m. to 12 noon.

“Para rin hindi maabala ’yung homeowners natin at saka iwasan ’yung init, ’yung heat stroke, matanda maarawan. Tanghali uwi na sila, makakapagluto na,” Non said.

[So the homeowners won’t be disturbed and the people lining up can avoid the heat, the heat stroke, the seniors being under the sun for too long. By noon they can go home and start cooking.]

On Saturday, the line at the Maginhawa community pantry turned out to be more than one kilometer long.

The line, which started in the new pantry location at the Teachers Village East barangay hall, reached Maharlika and Mayaman Streets, which were one kilometer away, said the barangay captain.

Barangay officials and members of Task Force ng Disiplina were present to help maintain order and social distancing in the queue.

“Tatlo lang hinihingi namin: social distancing, face mask at face shield, atsaka sumunod po tayo sa curfew,” said barangay chair Lolita Singson.

[We ask only for three things: social distancing, face mask and face shield, and for us to follow the curfew.]

Although the community pantry would be closed by 12 noon, it would be accepting donations until 6 p.m.

After Non opened her community pantry in Maginhawa, over 128 community pantries were launched in Quezon City.

The city government said barangay permits or clearances were not needed, but it released guidelines for community pantries. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News