PEF Tulong-Tulong POndo(Y): Our Chance to Help
After the Typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila, PEF staff set up their own fund drive to pool cash donations as well as relief goods for those affected. The effort was called PEF Tulong-Tulong POndo(Y), where staff donated an hour to a day’s worth of their salary to raise funds. A counterpart from PEF funds was also released doubling the fund. A modest collection of clothes and other goods were also donated to some households in Sitio Arenda, Taytay, Rizal.
With the help of PEF Luzon Area Unit’s partner, KASAGANA KA Development Center, Inc., a community in Novaliches was identified as recipient. Over a hundred children of KASAGANA KA members lost their school bags, books and supplies to the floods during Pepeng’s rage. The PEF staff decided to use the PEF Tulong-Tulong POndo(Y) to buy school bags and supplies for students from Grade 1 to second year high school.
PEF staff lost no time to buy, pack and distribute the goods for these affected school children. On Friday, 23 October 2009, the PEF staff met them at the KASAGANA KA Novaliches Office to personally hand each one a new school bag with notebooks, pad papers and other school materials. “Basta huwag lang mawalan ng pag-asa, makakabangon pa tayo” were the inspiring words given by Mr. Allyn Lopez, Luzon Area Manager, to the gathering of around 120. And hope there was, in the smiling faces of the children who received their new starter kit, excited to go back to school and carry on with their simple lives.
PEF staff gave out around 170 school bags through KASAGANA KA for its Novaliches and San Mateo communities. It was the PEF staff’s simple, sincere and personal way of reaching out to the community – our chance to help.
(Top Left) Some of the children beneficiaries. (Top right) Distribution of the school supplies to the children of KASAGANA KA. (Bottom) Mr. Allyn Lopez, PEF Luzon Area Manager, speaks to the beneficiaries.