MCGI kicks off global feeding program with over 120,000 free food packs
MANILA, Philippines — The Members Church of God International (MCGI) — known for the long-running religious program “Ang Dating Daan”— in cooperation with some local government units, served free food packs on Thursday (March 25) to families and individuals who are in need.
Always with the intention to fulfill the commandment of God in the Bible, MCGI in different chapters around the world simultaneously launched a global feeding program following the success of the global opening of the MCGI Free Store on March 14.
Overall, MCGI was able to prepare an initial 122,537 free food packs in 1,203 venues around the world and served around 121,366 recipients on its March 25th launch alone.
Taking note of the spiritual health and physical wellbeing of its members and the recipients, all personnel handling and delivering food strictly followed government-imposed health protocols.
Local officials who graced the occasion commended the conduct of the initiative.
“Isa ito sa masasabi ko talaga na organized, well planned at siyempre with God’s grace talagang ang ganda. 150 beneficiaries ang nakinabang sa mga kabaranggay ko dito at maraming maraming salamat sa bumubuo ng Members Church of God International,” said Jonathan Alcala, a councilor in Barangay Katipunan in Quezon City.
In the Philippines, members delivered the free food packs to residents in remote barangays, street dwellers, medical front liners and uniformed personnel, as well as COVID-19 positive patients under lockdown in different facilities.
“In behalf po ng aming warden at lahat po ng kasamahan ko na BJMP, and staff ng Dapitan City Jail at ang buong 73 (Persons Deprives of Liberty) as of now, malaki po ang pasasalamat namin sa ginagawang feeding program ng Ang Dating Daan,” SJO4 Augusto Wilmar Mabilog, assistant jail warden of the Dapitan City Jail said.
Likewise, CRC information officer SJO1 Rey Lawrence Comprendio also lauded the group’s timely assistance.
“Maganda po itong ginawa ng Church of God, at malaking tulong po ito sa aming institusyon lalong lalo na ngayong pandemya especially wala po tayong dalaw na face-to-face at ma-o-augment din talaga ito sa daily consumption ng ating mga PDLs,” he said.
Romelyn Canteren, a member of the Subanen tribe in Zamboanga Del Sur, expressed gratitude for the unexpected treat.
“Minsan wala po kaming makain kasi walang trabaho yung parents. Yung mama ko po sa bularan (fish-drying firms) lang po. Ako po minsan walang trabaho kaya masaya po kami na may tumulong sa amin.”
Abroad, brethren reached out to the homeless, poor families and distressed overseas Filipino workers.
“I am thanking God today that MCGI has given us this food so that we have food to eat for the day,” said Joseph Leed, a local beneficiary in Liberia.
Roy Tuazon, a displaced overseas Filipino worker in Saipan, was grateful for the assistance. “Nagpapasalamat po ako dahil nagkaroon po ng ganitong pa-feeding program sa MCGI dahil marami pong taong gaya ko na kinakapos din ng konti sa mga pagkain na ganito. Sana po meron pa po susunod. Salamat po,” he said.
Director Vicente Gregorio Tomas of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the National Capital Region (NCR) recognized MCGI’s initiative to augment the government’s effort to serve Filipinos especially during uncertain times such as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“Instructions ito ng ating mahal na Pangulo na katuwang ang ibang mga partner agencies na talagang mag reach-out. Kaya nga kami ay nagpapasalamat dahil in spite of the risk, nandyan po kayo tumutulong sa amin,” Tomas said.
Even officials abroad expressed gratitude to MCGI for continuously extending help to people in need across the globe.
“Ito ay isang malaking bagay na maitutulong sa mga kababayan nating Filipino lalong lalo na yung nawalan ng trabaho at na-stranded,” said Esther Chavez, representative of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Singapore.
“Ito po ay napapanahon sa pagtulong lalo na at panahon ng pandemic. Maramig salamat sa pamuuan ng MCGI para sa tulong na ginagawa nila para sa ating mamamayn,” she added.
For its part, MCGI is grateful to God for this opportunity to do good.
“Ang atin pong buhay ay hindi naman natin dapat na sa sarili lang natin iuukol kundi dapat din nating alalahanin ang kautusan ng Panginoon na meron tayong kapwa taong dapat lingapin, dapat tulungan kung nangangailangan,” said Bro. Danny Navales, representative of the MCGI.
The MCGI Global Feeding Program launch was aired live by its official media partner UNTV.