I joined the Rise Against Hunger meal packing event at Conrad Manila yesterday because I wanted to help our brothers and sisters in Lanao del Sur. While I do not have much to contribute, I knew that my time and voice online would help somehow. I knew very little about this organization, as I just stumbled upon their events on Facebook. However, I was impressed with the way they engage the public by holding meal packing shifts that anyone could join. I eventually signed up for their meal packing event and I was excited to be a volunteer for a day.
Now that I am unemployed, there is a tendency for me to feel overwhelmed with the endless job hunting and limitations I am facing. This meal packing event reminded me of how fortunate I am to eat thrice a day. I am getting sufficient nourishment, while there are so many who are starving. I must admit that I felt ashamed of how pessimistic I could be. Packing these rice-soy bags made me appreciate what I have, and what I still could be.
While I was ranting about not earning an income, there are Filipinos who are hungry. While I am job hunting, there are those who sleep at night with an empty stomach. I hope that there will be more initiatives to feed the hungry and provide assistance to those who lack access to their basic needs.
I encourage you to join their upcoming events. You won’t regret a few hours of doing good.
Photo from Rise Against Hunger Philippines