Schools, students and athletes are doing their share to help both the needy and the frontliners deal with the ongoing quarantine measures in the fight to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
For one, De La Salle University’s Razon Sports Complex has been turned into a haven for the homeless.
The complex is the training facility of the La Salle Green Archers men’s basketball team and has also hosted numerous events of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
School officials have also opened the covered courts of College of Saint Benilde to the indigent folks, while quarantine protocols are being enforced in Luzon.
The facilities were made available after the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center (AJ Kalinga) ran out of space.
“The AJ Kalinga Center is serving the homeless regularly. Their main ministry is providing food and free showers for the homeless. But now that we are on quarantine, they are looking for shelters for them. They worked with several schools to give them a safe space during the community quarantine,” said La Salle’s Vice President for Lasallian Mission Fritzie De Vera in a statement.
Since Monday, the school has accommodated 79 guests inside Razon Sports Complex, while 80 are in the covered courts of CSB.
The school has also tapped St. Scholastica College in Manila to house more homeless folks.
De Vera said volunteers from AJ Kalinga are now handling the guests on all sites.
And to provide for the daily needs of the guests and the volunteers, the school is asking for donations either in kind or in cash.
On the other hand, members of the multi-titled Adamson University women’s softball team have volunteered in packing goods needed by frontliners and residents in Metro Manila that are in lockdown.
Meanwhile, members of the Lady Falcons found time to do volunteer work after many were left stranded in the dormitories of the school.
They decided to band together and help packing goods that will be distributed in various parts of Manila. Peter Atencio
Team officials said this is their way of supporting the Vincentian priests’ Charity Over Virus Indifference and Despair and Facemasks Cover Your Face Not Your Hearts program.
“Sa part namin kahit small things na puwede kaming makatulong sa mga pamilya rito sa Metro Manila na nangangailangan lalo na sa panahong ito na kailangan atin ang isa’t isa,” said decorated Adamson head coach Ana Santiago.
The Lady Falcons were supposed to begin their bid for a 10th straight championship last February 17.
But due to pandemic and the ongoing quarantine, the tournament was suspended.
“May mga players kami na hindi nakauwi sa kanilang probinsya kasi nagmahal ‘yung pamasahe at ‘yung iba naman inabot na ng community quarantine,” said Santiago.