On June 9, 2017, a retired teacher who wishes to remain anonymous deposited Php 135,180.60 to send 23,307 Mingo Meals to Marawi evacuees in Mindanao.
Only three days earlier, she began a Facebook fundraising campaign to raise awareness about the increasing number of refugees, many of them children, in evacuation centers housing those who had fled the conflict in Marawi. She would post simple messages on Facebook, go to bed, and donations would pour in–doubling, tripling, even quadrupling while she was sleeping soundly.
Many of those who responded were her former students, whose minds she had first opened in the classroom. She relates one conversation:
A former student donated 3,000 pesos for Mingo meals for the Marawi Children and she said, “Sorry, it’s just a little help.”
I said, “No, it definitely is not little. Can you imagine that because of your donation, 517 kids will have one meal each or 1 kid will be assured of 517 meals? That certainly is something BIG.”
In an ongoing war such as is now happening in Marawi, no help is too small. Your 580 pesos means 100 kids will get to eat one nutritious meal (instead of being fed coffee or something else) or 1 kid is assured of getting 580 meals- that really means a lot especially when you don’t know where you will get your next meal.
It was her solo job, her singular mission, and she did it in only three days. She is proof of NVC’s belief in the power of private individuals who normally live quiet lives to make a positive change (even while asleep)!
How you can help
Each Mingo Meal costs only Php5.80, inclusive of air freight to evacuation centers. NVC accepts any amount with gratitude. We will pool donations to ship Mingo as efficiently as possible. NVC aims to send at least 100,000 Mingo Meals to the displaced people of Marawi.
Make a secure online donation to send Mingo for Marawi
You may also email [email protected] or call/message mobile number +63 917-300-0342 for more information.