SocioSoc drives community pantry initiative, eyes expansion opportunities

Driven by reports of financial woes and pleas in aid of meals among students online, the MSU-IIT Sociology Society (MISS) organized its version of a community pantry on April 13, Monday, providing goods and basic essentials for IITians in need.


The set-up, installed in the Old CASS Building Lobby, has run for two batches of filled pantries in a single week with their recent partnership with MSU-IIT SafeStay Connect (MISSC) and monetary donations from individuals supporting the initiative last April 15, Wednesday.


These are well-received by the students however limited, noting how supplies typically last for only about an hour.


Nonetheless, prospects of further waves signal as the society expressed plans to expand the pantry after more donors reached out for their contributions.


Prince Philip Labide, one of the main organizers from MISS, shared that amid the ongoing crises and soaring prices of basic commodities, the wisdom of establishing a community pantry compelled them as “mass-oriented” leaders to be proactive in the alarming frequency and urgency of these matters that concern the welfare of their fellow students.


“This situation is further intensified by the broader crises affecting our current conditions, which have strained not only students’ financial stability but also that of the families who support their daily needs. As a sociological instinct nga naa jud ta’y urge sa paglihok para mu-extend og tabang sa atong kapwa, a student-led community pantry initiative was established,” Labide detailed.


Initially, the initiative drew from surplus supplies used in their relief operations during Typhoon Basyang, which were redistributed to beneficiaries; however, after the first batch, collaborations began to emerge, signaling the possibility of further installments.


Labide emphasized that the effectiveness of the community pantry lies in how it is designed to be “pang-masa,” without designated watchers, banners, or logos that may intimidate students in need or make it appear like an exclusive stall.


“Wala’y people or students nga nagabantay didto para dili ma-intimidate ang students nga moduol og kuha. Wala pud society logos nga gibutang para talagang inclusive siya ug dili ma-misinterpret as pang-‘Sociology’ lang nga pantry,” he wrote in a virtual interview.


The Sociology Society remains open to accepting donations for the expansion and sustainability of the community pantry, hoping to reach more students in pop-ups dispersed across the campus.


For monetary donations, initiative support may be channeled on the following platforms: Landbank - 0327 3306 91 and GCash - 0907 239 8044 under Potre Alikhan. Labide also expressed a desire to connect with various groups or individuals for future collaborations.

 
Written by John Vincent Balustre
Photo from MSU-IIT Sociology Society FB Page