By Brian Campued
The newly-opened Walang Gutom Kitchen of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is looking for food donations from restaurants and fast food chains, as well as volunteers, Sec. Rex Gatchalian said over the weekend.
“Hinihikayat namin ang mga organisasyon at indibidwal na gustong tumulong laban sa kagutuman na magtungo lamang sa Walang Gutom Kitchen sa Nasdake Building sa Pasay City para maging volunteer server natin for the day,” Gatchalian said in a video message.
Launched on Dec. 16, the Walang Gutom Kitchen serves as a soup kitchen and food bank catering to children, individuals, and families in street situations who are experiencing involuntary hunger and homelessness while helping minimize food wastage by accepting donations from food establishments.
The DSWD chief also clarified that the food being served at the Kitchen are not from “pagpag” (leftover food) but food that was not used at all by donors.
“Malinis itong mga pagkain na prepared sa mga hotel, restaurant, fast food na hindi nagalaw at all. Hindi ito akala ng iba na ‘pagpag’ kung tawagin,” Gatchalian said during the inauguration.
“Kaysa itapon, ibigay na lang sa food bank natin sa Walang Gutom Kitchen para araw-araw mula 6:00 a.m., hanggang may supply tayo, tuloy-tuloy ang daloy ng mga tao na nagugutom para mabigyan natin ng libreng pagkain,” he explained.
Aside from providing meals, the DSWD also hosts nutrition education sessions to promote healthy lifestyle to the clientele of the newly-launched facility.
DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said that more interactive activities will be held in the kitchen soon.
“We designed these activities to ensure that while our kitchen will be open to everyone in need, it wouldn’t be reduced into a dole-out program,” Dumlao stressed.
Meanwhile, DSWD plans to open more Walang Gutom Kitchens nationwide to realize President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision to alleviate involuntary hunger in the Philippines.
-avds