Maginhawa Community Pantry looking to move into bigger space

The Maginhawa Community Pantry in Quezon City is looking to move into a bigger space to accommodate more people looking for a free supply of food and other essential goods amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, with the help of the Quezon City government, the said community pantry, which has inspired others to organize similar projects not only in the country but also abroad, will relocate somewhere near its original location.

Its new location will be announced once everything has already been finalized.

Ana Patricia Non, the organizer of the Maginhawa Community Pantry, thanked everyone who volunteered and donated to the initiative.

“Lahat ng success na ‘to dahil sa mga Pilipino and sa donors. Actually, sobrang liit lang po ng ambag ko. Parang wala pa kumpara sa tulong ng lahat ng tao,” she said.

(This success will not be possible if not for the donors. My contribution is little compare to that of all those who helped.)

Non said currently 15 volunteers are helping in the repacking of goods daily.

“Kung wala po ‘yong volunteers and ‘yong community, imposibleng ma-sustain ko ‘yong community pantry [If not for the volunteers, it would have been impossible for me to sustain this community pantry],” she said.

On Tuesday, Non announced the temporary closure of the community pantry after she was allegedly profiled and red-tagged. It resumed operations Wednesday.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) posted graphics on its Facebook page apparently linking community pantry initiatives to the communist movement.

NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade, Jr. on Tuesday denied red-tagging individuals, but admitted they were checking out the background of organizers of community pantries.

The QCPD, for its part, has since apologized for its post. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/MDM, GMA News