SM Foundation, Inc, SM Supermalls, SM Markets and SM Retail donated thousands of Kalinga Christmas packs to various communities around the country over the weekend. This joint project by the organizations in the SM Group was mobilized to bring essentials and gifts to residents and gifts to communities and sectors in need.
More than 70,000 packs were spread out all over the country, to communities still most especially affected by the pandemic, like the urban poor, fisherfolk, displaced vendors, streetsweepers, garbage haulers and wastepickers, persons with disabilities, senior groups, farmers, among others.
Gifting these packs to these people and their families is for them to feel the joy of Christmas despite the challange and difficulties brought about by COVID-19 pandemic. “Christmas is the time for solidarity in taking care of the underpriviledged in our communities,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. “It’s through our concerted efforts that we can make this possible.”
Tan, along with SM Hypermarket president Arnold Dalus, SM Retail senior vice president Eugene Saw and SM Foundation assistant vice president Cristie Angeles, led the gift giving activity of Christmas Kalinga packs to residents of Baranggay 14, District 1 in Pasay City.
Across the country where SM Supermalls and affiliates are located, the same Kalinga packs made their way to various communities through the SM Cares program and with the help of employee volunteers. In Bacolod City, the SM mall and affiliates, including The SM Store and SM Supermarket, gave to fisherfolk who reside at the city’s shoreline barangays, displaced informal vendors, and wastepickers who make their ends meet by scavaging the city’s dumpsite. Victims of the recent fire that struck Baranggay 10 near SM City Bacolod were also given Kalinga Christmas gift packs.
Each Kalinga gift pack contained several kilos of rice and other food essentials. The distribution was held following minimum health protocols, while social distancing was maintained at all times.
SM City Bacolod and SM Supermarket give Kalinga Christmas gift packs to fisherfolk beneficiaries who reside at the city’s shoreline baranggays.
Displaced vendors, or what can be termed the “entrepreneurial poor” received Kalinga packs over the weekend.
These vendors are displaced from their occupied spots in sidewalks and near the public markets of Libertad, Burgos and Central Market. Although many were relocated to a proper market venue, the onset of COVID-19 further affected their means of living.
SM Cares goes to Brgy. Felisa, where wastepickers and garbage scavengers also received donations from SM’s employee volunteers.
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