To help the general public find community pantries in their respective areas, a group of Filipino mapmakers created a map of all community pantries in the Philippines.

Sandra Tabinas, one of the mapmakers, said “Saan May Community Pantry?” site initially started as a crowdsourcing platform to map available delivery services during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). 

“But since these information are not as critically needed as the community pantries location and related information, I though of repurposing the web app into a crowdmapping platform for such,” Tabinas told the Manila Bulletin.

Apart from helping Filipinos in need find the nearest community pantry in their area, the map also aims to assist other three types of people: those looking to donate, those hoping to barter their supplies, and those planning to build their own community pantry. 

The initiative was a collective effort of mapmakers and geographers, with Tabinas working on the map and other technical aspects. She also handles Saan Yan PH Facebook page along with David Garcia.

The team, composed of Tabinas, Garcia, Mikko Tamura, and Prof. Orly Martinez collaborated with volunteers from MapBeks, Mental Health AWHEREness, University of the Philippines Diliman Geography Department, and the PH Mapping Community, to make the project possible.

Tabinas said they are also currently working with Facebook group Community Pantry PH for information on community pantries across the country and training volunteers to improve the site.

How it works

The map can be accessed through https://saanyan.github.io/saanmaycommunitypantry/ using mobile or desktop.

Those who want to see the information and location of the nearest community pantries in their area may click on the pin on the map or zoom in on the map.

“It also works as a data capture form wherein a person can pin their community pantries’ locations on the map. After zooming in and pinning their location on the map, they can then submit the accompanying information such as contact details, needed supplies, opening hours, etc., on the map’s automated form,” Tabinas said.

Those who may find difficult to pin their locations on the map may access this Google form instead to submit their information. 

As of April 19, the site already mapped 74 community pantries across the country.

From the first community pantry in Maginhawa, Quezon City set up by AP Non, hundreds of community pantries have sprouted all over Luzon, Visayas, and Minandao. 

Data from the Community Pantry Pilipinas Facebook page showed that there are at least 196 community pantries nationwide.