Paano Magsimula ng Bodegong Bayan/ How to Start a Community Pantry

Anong makakatulong? Magtanong sa pamilya o mga kapitbahay kung may kakilala silang gustong tumulong! Makakatulong ang gumawa ng group chat (GC) at siguruhing handang tumulong ang mga kasama. Baka okay ring mag-post sa Facebook o ibang social media kung gusto nilang tumulong!

Anong makakatulong? Maglista at mag-imbentaryo sa spreadsheet o papel. Maliban sa pagkain o gustong ipamahagi, isulat din ang mga kagamitang kailangan ninyo ng mga kasama mong magtayo ng bodegang bayan.

Anong makakatulong? Pumili ng lugar na madali ninyong mapupuntahan ng mga kasama mo. Kung maraming dumadaan sa inyo, baka okay nang magsimula sa tapat o labas ng bahay mo! Kailangan din ng address na ibibigay sa ibang gustong magbahagi.

Anong makakatulong? Baka makatulong kung magbigay-alam sa barangay para panatilihing ligtas ang bodegang bayan.

Kapwa-Tulungan: Pakikiisa, hindi pagbibigay lang

Ang punto ay ang magtulungan tayong iangat ang isa’t isa, hindi tratuhin ang iba na kaawa-awa. Nag-aabot lang tayo ng kamay sa mga miyembro ng komunidad na kailangan ng tulong sa panahon ng malubhang kahirapan. Nandito tayo para ipaalalang maaasahan natin ang isa’t isa, at hindi na wala silang maiaambag o magagawa nang walang donasyon. Tutal, wala naman tayong ibang maaasahan kung hindi ang isa’t isa.

Mga Katanungan

Paano kung pakyawin? — Eh di mabuti. Nandiyan naman kasi ang community pantry o bodegang bayan para gamitin ng mga tao. Kahit pakyawin nang ilang beses, ang mahalaga ay handang tumulong at magbigay ang komunidad basta kaya. Magtiwala tayo sa isa’t isa!

Paano kung di naman agaran na kailangan ng tulong yung komunidad ko? — Kunin ang mga sobrang bilihan, mga PPE, o gamot na dala ng mga tao at maghanap ng mga bodegang malapit sa inyo upang ibigay, O pwede ring magsama-sama sa mga ka-barangay o ka-lugar niyo para magsimula ng sariling bodega.

Kaya ba ’tong panatilihin ng pang-matagalan? — Syempre! Dahil hindi nga lang ito pamimigay, kundi pakikiisa mula sa komunidad, hindi manggagaling ang mga kakailanganin mula sa nakakataas na malayo ang loobin, pero mula sa mga taong may pagmamalasakit sa mga mas nahihirapan sa buhay. Hindi mawawala ang ayuda dahil sa kawalan ng interes; nasa interes ng sarili ang tulungan ang isa’t-isa!

Hindi rin kayo nag-iisa! Nasa libo, kung hindi milyon, na ng tao sa buong mundo ang nakikiisa at nagmamalasakit kontra sa pandemyang COVID-19. Iilan ang mga nasa baba sa mga halimbawa ng mga proyektong ito, mula New York, Poland, Puerto Rico, at Brazil!

• Finding the Thread that Binds Us: Three Mutual Aid Networks in New York City
• Doing What State and Market Cannot: The Visible Hand: How a Mutual Aid Network Serves Tens of Thousands in Poland
• Puerto Rico: The Road to Decolonization: Disaster Relief, Mutual Aid, and Revolt
• Solidarity, Direct Action, and Self-Determination: Kasa Invisível: An Occupied Social Center Becomes a Hub of Mutual Aid in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Let a thousand pantries bloom!

English: How to Start a Community Pantry

Community pantries have been emerging recently, showing people that we are willing to help each other out because we can’t rely on anyone else. Today we’ll be discussing how you can get started at your own community, and potentially use that to find other people who want the world to change for the better.

Set up your own community pantry/bodegang bayan!
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TIP: Ask family or neighbors if they want to help or know anyone who wants to! Set up a group chat (GC) and make sure these are people who want to help out actively, too. You might also think of posting a call on your Facebook or other social media!

TIP: Start an inventory either via spreadsheet or paper. Aside from the food you want to share, write down the materials you need and the people who have expressed the desire to share or help out.

TIP: Pick a location that’s accessible to you or your group. If you live in a high-traffic area, outside your own home might be good! You will also need an address to share for anyone interested in sharing.

TIP: Maybe letting your barangay know about the community pantry can ensure its safety.

Mutual aid: Solidarity, not charity

The goal is to help each other out, not treat others like they are charity cases. We are just offering a hand to members of our community who might need help in these difficult times. We are here to remind each other that we can rely on one another, not that they are helpless without us. After all, we can’t really rely on anyone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if people take everything? — Then that’s good! That’s the point of the community pantry anyway: to be used by the people. Even if the pantry runs empty many times, what is important is that we are prepared to help each other and offer help to our community as long as we’re able. Let’s trust in one another!

What if my community isn’t in immediate need? — Gather any surplus groceries, PPE, meds that people have bought and see if there are any pantries in your area that you can leave them at OR partner with people from your area to start a pantry.

Is it really sustainable? — Of course! Since these pantries aren’t meant to be purely charity, but solidarity by the community, it means that the goods won’t be coming from an impersonal higher-up, but from people who actually care for the lesser-privileged in their area. So contributions won’t dry up with a lack of interest; it’s in the people’s self interest to help one another!

Besides, you are not alone! Thousands, if not millions, of people across the world practice mutual aid and collective care against the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are examples of other mutual aid projects all around the world from New York, Poland, Puerto Rico, and Brazil.

• Finding the Thread that Binds Us: Three Mutual Aid Networks in New York City
• Doing What State and Market Cannot: The Visible Hand: How a Mutual Aid Network Serves Tens of Thousands in Poland
• Puerto Rico: The Road to Decolonization: Disaster Relief, Mutual Aid, and Revolt
• Solidarity, Direct Action, and Self-Determination: Kasa Invisível: An Occupied Social Center Becomes a Hub of Mutual Aid in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Let a thousand pantries bloom!