Maginhawa community pantry organizer pays tribute to 1st volunteer

The organizer of the Maginhawa community pantry has expressed her appreciation for their initiative’s first volunteer.

On Wednesday, Ana Patricia Non shared on Facebook that Donnaville Pavillion, one of their most active members, started from refilling the pantry’s vegetables and assisting her.

Donnaville used to sell vegetables on the street but admitted she had a hard time due to the quarantine restrictions.

According to Patricia, while Donnaville is busy working and volunteering at the pantry, she is also attending her online classes, which she pays for herself.

“Isinasabay niya sa pagbebenta ng gulay at pagvo-volunteer sa pantry. Gusto niya pala maging architect,” Patricia wrote.

[She sells vegetables and volunteers in the pantry at the same time. She wants to be an architect.]

She also praised Donnaville for being “bibo” (smart) during interviews that she had become one of journalists’ go-to sources.

Patricia said the volunteer even did her research on red-tagging.

“Natakot ang volunteers kasi ’di sila aware sa termino pero nagulat na lang din ako na nandiyan pa sila,” she said.

[The volunteers got scared because they did not know what it meant but I’m surprised that they are still here.]

“Sabi lang din [ni Donna], ‘Ang gulo yung red-tagging pero ang malinaw, tumutulong lang tayo.”

[Donna said, “red-tagging is messy but what is clear is that we are just helping.”]

According to Mariz Umali’s “24 Oras” report on April 22, Donnaville, 21, said she volunteered to help because she felt Patricia needed it.

“Pakiramdam ko kailangan ko tulungan si Pat dahil nag-iisa siya, wala talaga siyang kasama,” said Donnaville.

[I felt like I had to help Pat because she was alone, no one was with her.]

The volunteer said they had to repack items to ensure more people would benefit from the pantry.  

Today, the Maginhawa community pantry continues to help those in need through the efforts of its organizers and volunteers.

According to the report, it now has 15 volunteers who help in repacking goods and accepting donations.

“Kung wala po ’yung volunteers and ’yung community, imposibleng ma-sustain ko ’yung community pantry,” said Patricia.

[If not for the volunteers and the community, it will be difficult for me to sustain the pantry.]

The Maginhawa community pantry, which has moved to a bigger and safer location, has since branched out to several “mini pantries” within Diliman, Quezon City. – Franchesca Viernes/RC, GMA News