A community pantry in Muntinlupa, which has served thousands of people including prisoners, is wrapping up its drive today, May 8.

The last day of the Muntinlupa Community Pantry organized by the Muntinlupa Food Drive group, headed by Isay Yason, will be held at Laguerta Bulilit Center in Brgy. Tunasan.

Yason told Manila Bulletin that her group is thankful for all the donors who have contributed to the pantry's success.

The pantry started last April 17 at Jaysons Building on National Road in Bgy. Putatan, Muntinlupa, with Yason and her friends chipping in money and calling for donations.

In the last three weeks, the community pantry has grown as people flocked to get free food and other items.

Yason said their community pantry has evolved as they donated food to inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), Mary Mother of Mercy Home for Elderly & Abandoned in San Pedro, Laguna, and senior citizens in communities.

“Aside from the elderly at the NBP minimum security camp, we also donated to the home for the aged, home for the orphaned children, which is Elsie Gaches Village in Alabang, and other elderly,” she said.

With tons of donations coming in, the Muntinlupa Community Pantry became a hub as it decided to give items to other community pantries in the city including the St. Peregrine Community Pantry in Brgy. Tunasan under Feed It Forward PH and the Tunasan Community Pantry.

Besides the in-kind donations given by companies and individuals, Yason said they have also received about P300,000 in cash.

She said to serve more people, the Muntinlupa Community Pantry decided to establish pop-up locations in the city.

They also held a feeding activity consisting of free lugaw (porridge), pandesal, and Cheez Whiz spread at Soldier’s Hills in Brgy. Putatan after they received donations from Mondelez and an unidentified donor who gave 100 bags of pandesal.

“We wanted to reach out to other people, we wanted to touch base with other residents,” she said.

To implement physical distancing at their pantry, Yason said they sought help from the barangay. Police officer Rey Aguirre and his group also helped them in the distribution of food items to communities.

Yason said one challenge they faced was dealing with pantry hoppers or people who go from one pantry to another to get food.

“It was always a good intention but eventually one challenge we faced was that we wanted to be fair. We tried to prevent pantry hoppers to give everyone a fair chance,” she said.

She thanked all donors and volunteers who gave items and time to make the Muntinlupa Community Pantry successful.

“Of course the donors. We couldn’t have done it without them. We have so many individuals who always donate. Also to my parents and the staff of the school Christ the King because they are the manpower for repacking, guarding the pantry. They’re always there, the volunteers,” said Yason.