Our dear NVC volunteer Mary Anne “Leggs” Yulo Riego left us too soon. She passed away in early 2020 at the age of 59. In lieu of flowers at her wake, family and friends donated to projects of NVC, the foundation which she had volunteered for countless times in her lifetime.
In February of 2020, Mingoy, the NVC Food Shuttle made a special trip in Mary Anne’s memory. 200 individuals received Mingo Meals that day. We also planned to honor her life by giving out LoveBags to indigenous children in need of school supplies. Alas, Covid restrictions and school closures starting March 2020 meant we had to shelve that plan.
In May of this year, we were finally able to continue the celebration of Mary Anne’s life. 56 LoveBags packed with hygiene kits and school supplies for the children’s distance education were brought up to Sitio Mansalinao in the mountains of Kapalong, Davao del Norte. As we climbed up the slopes, we felt a bit closer to Mary Anne. For one, we were doing what she loved to do—being of service to others. And also, we were close to the heavens, where she surely must be.
Mary Anne (in red, seated at the far right) at the 2017 Negros Trade Fair, she was one of our volunteer “tinderas”.
Friends gathered to give out Mingo Meals in Mary Anne’s memory.
Recipients of Mary Anne’s LoveBags hold their bags up high.