Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Yolanda Evacuation Center Feeding

Following the plan was the most tedious task of this activity. The plan usually start with the beneficiary then the budgeting follows. The negotiation comes after everything was allocated.

The activity was not really on our list but because of the overwhelming support of our friends, families and extended friends, we have more money to give. Despite the exhaustion from the last week's planning marathon, buying, repacking and distribution activities, we push through as promised.

It wasn't easy, considering most people was starting to go back to their normal life. For the first time in my organizing years, I wanted to stop. Yet every time I hear stories about how Yolanda victims suffered, the passion would start again. I know I only need to push as hard as I could. They are not quitting, they're just waiting. And they truly are. :)

We started planning with only one center in mind, we were having problems on how to budget it properly. Then additional donations came...and much more. We ended up separating the activity in 2 days, Saturday and Sunday. The volunteers were given the chance to pick their schedule.

Saturday Feeding Activity at Babag 2 Sports Complex
+ Tinago Center

We pledged for breakfast since it's the only slot left for Saturday. We needed to be at the center at 8:00 AM, to achieve that we have to be assembled around 7:00 AM. I'm not really practicing the Pinoy mentality thing on some days but I understand that most people are...yet to my amazement, we were assembled just in time. Arrived at the center a good 15 minutes after 8:00 AM. There were 11 volunteers. And as the impromptu-hired-multi-cab stopped in front of the center, I can feel their excitement to be of service. 

Actually this picture was taken after the feeding. :P
We expected to cater 100 evacuees but when we went inside, it was almost empty. We were told that 57 of them left for Manila in the morning without breakfast. Oh dear! They missed Jollibee. After the distribution and playing with Jollibee, they told us that some evacuees will transfer to Tinago Center. On the way, they told us to just left the food for the 57. They will give it to the evacuees on the way to the transfer. Because pier 4 was on the way, we volunteered to drop the food. It was then that our true service began.

The team plus the center volunteers
We chased the 57 evacuees at pier 4. Unfortunately, we weren't able to find them on time. We decided to just give the remaining 50 food packs to Tinago center. Instead of just one, we covered 2 centers in all. :)

Getting ready to distribute!

Playing with Jollibee
Sunday Feeding Activity at Looc Sports Complex and Guadalupe Gym

Because of what happened to the Saturday activity, decided to text Looc contact for the update on the number of evacuees. Turned out,  there are only 37 evacuees left out of 125. If we give them 40, we still have extra 85 packs. We were in a haze to find a new center to feed. We were lucky that Guadalupe Gym was able to accept our packs at such a short notice.

Going to Guadalupe and then Looc was quite a hassle, so the Sunday team decided to just divide their group in 2. Guada team consists of Peter, JJ, Mitch, Ali, Dea and Florence. Looc team consist of Gem, Nelo, Corie and Jason.

To upload pictures of Sunday team soon.

Feeding Details. We started with the problem of not having enough to feed one center, ended up feeding 4 and still have money left. The remaining money will be allocated to relief packing. We will just be packing the goods and have them distributed to northern Cebu with our partners. Will post details soon.

Once again, in behalf of YPRO team, thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. May God give you more. Till next time.

No comments:

Post a Comment