“Give what you can, take what you need”

While the whole of the Philippines is prone to seasonal typhoons and storms, mountainous locales across the country rarely face the same devastation that is part of life on the coast. Severe tropical storm Maring struck the region of Northern Luzon last week causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage to property, crops and livestock. The government’s emergency response has so far been inadequate for the severity of the situation, though various agencies are coordinating with the stranded and displaced.

Twenty-six-year-old Ana Patricia Non, a resident of the region, has been helping grassroots food banks and shelters targeting those affected by the storm get off the ground. She lives by the slogan “give what you can, take what you need” and, through her organization, the Maginhawa Community Pantry, is supporting local efforts in this time of need. 

One of the contributors to Redlion Studios, @CaptainPalawan, grew up in the region and has taken it upon himself to provide direct financial assistance to Ms. Non’s initiatives and coordinate donation efforts. Currently, the equivalent of one $ETH can feed nearly 3000 individuals in the region per day through the Community Pantry initiative. As crops and food stores have been destroyed, food is in short supply, and the Community Pantry is trying to tackle that with the help of local volunteers.