A meal at the Walang Gutom Kitchen Cebu comes with more than food as volunteers, donors and community groups help the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reach people experiencing involuntary hunger.
Since opening on June 22, the kitchen has served more than 27,000 breakfast and lunch meals as of Aug. 24, according to DSWD Field Office 7.
Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero said addressing involuntary hunger requires cooperation among government, the private sector and communities.
The kitchen can prepare up to 250 meals for each serving period, covering breakfast and lunch. Donations allow it to accommodate additional clients when demand exceeds the number of prepared meals.
Lucero said the facility will continue to accept food and in-kind donations from individuals and organizations, subject to DSWD acceptance procedures and food safety inspections.
She emphasized that volunteerism and donations do not replace government funding but give the public an avenue to participate in serving vulnerable communities.
The kitchen’s food donation mechanism is also aligned with Republic Act No. 9803, or the Food Donations Act, which encourages the donation of surplus food and supplies for charitable purposes.
Lucero said the effort addresses both involuntary hunger and food waste.
Volunteers have been assisting at the kitchen since July 13, helping prepare and distribute meals, assist clients and maintain the facility.
Shiela Marie Bedolido of San Fernando, Cebu, who is seeking employment in Cebu City, has volunteered at the kitchen five times.
“Nalipay ko kay nakahatag ko og gamay nga tabang pinaagi sa pag-volunteer sa pag-andam ug pag-apod-apod sa pagkaon. Happy sila nga naka-kaon sila,” Bedolido said. (I am happy that I was able to give a little help by volunteering to prepare and distribute food. They are happy that they were able to eat.)
Accenture Cebu volunteer Ivan Lapuz said he has seen the impact of the meals on clients while acknowledging that the kitchen is not a permanent solution to hunger.
“Makita gyud nimo sa ilahang nawong nga nalipay gyud… I know it is not a long-term solution, but at least dili na nila problemahon ang ilang kaon anang panahona. It is a start, and it is not the end,” Lapuz said. (You can really see the happiness on their faces. I know it is not a long-term solution, but at least they do not have to worry about their food at that moment. It is a start, and it is not the end.)
Volunteers also help implement the kitchen’s Clean As You Go, or CLAYGO, initiative, encouraging clients and volunteers to properly segregate food and non-food waste and maintain cleanliness.
The community partnership extends to the kitchen’s food supply chain.
Through DSWD’s convergence strategy, the kitchen sources vegetables, fruits, condiments and meat from the Cambinocot Multipurpose Cooperative and rice from the Guadalupe Community Multipurpose Cooperative.
Both are accredited community-based organizations endorsed through the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP).
The partnerships allow community-based organizations to participate directly in addressing food insecurity while linking local production with social protection programs.
Beyond providing free balanced meals, the kitchen also assesses clients and refers them, when appropriate, to DSWD programs and other interventions based on their needs, including the Pag-abot Program and Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program.
The Walang Gutom Kitchen Cebu operates daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pier 4, OKK Square Unit, Arellano Boulevard corner Gen. Maxilom Extension, Cebu City.
DSWD 7 continues to encourage individuals, organizations and community groups to volunteer or establish partnerships with the kitchen.
Photo courtesy of Nestor Archival
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