Someone started it, with the greatest idea in mind, to share with others what you have and allow others to share what they have with you. A noble idea indeed. Community Pantries have brought out the best and the worst in people.
Our parish started it also with the help of some of our parishioners who's interested in helping others. It began as a simple idea to help but soon blossomed into a big thing.
When people from our community learned of our endeavor, they started to send their own donations for the cause.
Soon, more and more people send in their donations...
but also more and more people lined up. People from everywhere, even beyond our parish's mission areas came in for a little piece of the pantry's pie.
But the pantry bringing out the best in people, those who tirelessly donate and give to the pantry, allowing us to help more and more people, also brought out the worse in people.
When we started regulating the line. Trying to keep repeaters from coming in daily and making them follow the IATF safety protocols of wearing face shields, face masks and observing physical distance. Some got mad with the volunteers for meddling with the system, some got mad because they wanted to line up everyday. Some even went as far as swear at the volunteers, post hate posts on social media tagging the volunteers. Some even accuse the volunteers of hugging all the goods and taking it all for themselves.
It is sad when all the volunteers work hard with no pay and minimal help. I mean, they do get their share of the goods but contrary to popular belief, they don't get to get from the pantry every day.
We have been at this pantry for around 23 days already and it is becoming quite difficult to continue the work, the volunteers are tired but still willing and ready to help. We just hope that the beneficiaries of the pantry will also learn to appreciate the work of the volunteers.
I pray that as we near the end of this pantry, and as one of our guest priest in our fiesta Mass have said, we should see the face of Jesus not only in the benefactors but in the beneficiaries as well.
(c) Pictures owned by Parroquia De La Nuestra Señora dela Paz Y Buen Viaje
It is a praiseworthy task. Let us ask God to see with eyes of infinite mercy those who look with hatred and pour out their evil on those who want to do good to their neighbor and are not understood. May God bless the actions of good-hearted volunteers.