No. I hope not. For such a noble deed to continue, it would require capable and committed partners.
The level of commitment it will require would no doubt won’t be any less humongous. If the tremendous obligation required is met, then it will stay and will self-sustain. Having said that, and with what I see in the mushrooming community pantry activities nationwide, it may end up a spur-of-the-moment craze.
Thoughtful Patrons
The patrons of a Community Pantry must and should help it continue. They won’t just allow to remain as mere takers but become partakers themselves. They don’t just get, they also contribute. Mayda man gihap nira mabubulig bisan hira mga buroligan. They too can and must be required to share in with something. Otherwise, they hardly would deserve the privileges and benefits a member of a community gets. Diri maupay kun puros ka na la pagkinarawat.
A Shared Responsibility
The question that must be asked is “what is it that you are capable to share?” If community life is only clearly understood and embraced, that a program such as Community Pantry is in fact a shared responsibility of every single community member, the ambitious project, however demanding, will no doubt be sustained. Until that is understood, and both organizers and patrons willing to pay the cost, it will quickly die out and fade away. Maiha na it semana kun diri it mag close shop. It sari-sari store ngani nga may halin kaurogan nagigin sira-sira store, asay pa ba eton nga puros la kuha.
Humungous Requirement
Generosity is an attitude of the heart. It is an attitude of the compassionate. Often, the motivation is but to help. To help make the needy one better. And often, before the objective is achieved, would require a lot to buy more time, in order to have more effective interventions, or invest more help if need be. I can just imagine the humungous requirement needed in a single Community Pantry alone in order for it to effect significant and permanent social change, much more to bring healing in a profoundly hurting community.
The Least That We All Can Do
My experience tells me that we can always have a small community that we can all start with by showing our little acts of generosity. The least we all can do is to become a blessing to our own families. Even that, however small of a responsibility, requires an un-muddled sense of generosity. It’s a giving heart that goes with a strong sense of being responsible. It’s an attitude that defies the odds. It’s a generosity that finds ways regardless.