Someone once said, “Every challenge, every adversity, contains within it, the seeds of opportunity and growth.” There is possibly no greater challenge we have collectively gone through than the pandemic of the past two years. And yet, true to that saying, the pandemic and its forced lockdown on us all gave rise to the opportunity for our group of friends in Alabang to brainstorm ways to help those who lost employment or faced financial difficulties. Thus, from the desire for us, our families, and friends to reach out and touch the lives of the less privileged, Kapwa Kusina (Shared Kitchens) was born.
Every month, since its conception in March 2021, Kapwa Kusina has gathered volunteer kusineras (cooks) to each prepare meals for six families, or about 30 people. The organizers provide the ingredients and recipes, and the volunteers cook the meals in their homes. The meals are brought to a central drop-off point and are delivered onward to beneficiary communities. One lady in our group is connected with the Philippine Foodbank Foundation as well as with parishes and groups who can identify beneficiary communities in need.
The response to Kapwa Kusina has been very positive, family members of all ages get involved in cooking and packing the meals—from toddlers to teenagers and grandmothers to helpers. Some alumnae and students from Wood Rose School have also joined us. Some volunteers have shared with us affordable recipes. While other friends have opted to donate cash or ingredients, we have also received corporate donations through The Philippine Foodbank.
Social media has helped spread the word about our project to more friends near and far. allowing others to share in the passion and joy of helping feed the less privileged. Friends living far from Alabang have birthed their own Kapwa Kusina chapters in Quezon City and Makati City. Thus allowing the love from shared kitchens to reach farther and wider than we had originally imagined.
We aim to cook meals monthly, usually on a feast day. We distribute the meals and include a prayer card of the Saint of the Day. Since so many families are in need, we try to help a different community every month. Our next Kapwa Kusina event is scheduled on the 13th of May 2023.
So far, we have cooked for 15,000 people in thirty communities. It is incredibly heartwarming to see the smiles on the faces of the beneficiaries as they receive their meals and to read their thank-you messages. At the same time. the volunteers are very grateful for the opportunity to serve and to share their labor of love cooked up in their kitchens.
