Community Pantry for Sudlon 1, Cebu City
Last April 24, 2021, Scouts from the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Scouting Unit, in partnership with the Puhon Initiative, E-Scouting PH, Ligtas Philippines, and other benefactors initiated a community pantry in Brgy. Sudlon 1, Cebu City, a mountain community at the heart of Cebu island, Philippines. The community was chosen especially due to its difficult access to many goods such as canned food, water, COVID-19 essentials, and etc. The prementioned goods were initiatedly put on the community pantry for the community to share, and the community also contributed fresh produce such as vegetables to the pantry to share to the rest. As a formal courtesy to the local government, the Scouts also turned over some goods to the Barangay (Village) Councilor, to initiate the kickstart of the community pantry in the community.
A community pantry is an initiative by gathering and placing goods in a designated area in the community wherein residents may "take what they need and give what they wish". This community initiative started in Luzon, Philippines, which made it way all over the country. Residents may take whatever food or resources they need, and should they have something to share to those in need, they may also contribute to the pantry by putting their extra goods to share to the rest on the pantry. This initiative is self-sustaining especially that both benefactors and the community work hand-in-hand to maintain the pantry, especially in sharing to those in need. With this, the community was able to sustain in providing for the needs of their fellowmen, and awaken a sense of solidarity by sharing what they need.