The UAE government continues to provide assistance for Overseas Filipino Workers whose health and livelihood were affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic through its food drive—with its recent initiative on July 24 providing over 7,000 goods in various areas across the country.
According to Emille Parcia, the Filipino community volunteer that the UAE Food Bank (UFB) has partnered with to conduct these drives, they have distributed the food groceries in different areas like Al Qusais, Ajman, Sharjah and Al Quoz during this particular food drive.
She also expressed gratitude to the UFB for entrusting her with food drives for jobless OFWs.
“It’s not easy to have no income here. You have to buy everything you need, especially food. But, instead of just looking at them and let them know how I feel, I get up and find ways to volunteer. We may not have the money, but we have the time and effort as my capital in doing this drive. We are so glad that UAE foodbank entrusted us to distribute food pack to Filipino community through Mr. Cris Mares,” she told The Filipino Times.
READ ALSO: THE NEW HERO: Filipina in Deira lauded for cooking, distributing free food for OFWs in need
Parcia also said that these operations reflect the commitment of the UAE to sympathize with and help the Filipino community in the country.
“It shows how empathetic and compassionate they are. They just don’t think of their own nationality, but they think us Filipinos. They make us feel that we are part of this country. And we blessed that we have the support of UAE government at this time of pandemic. We felt belongingness to this great nation,” she added.
Parcia also noted that since the beginning of the pandemic, they have already given away over 100,000 meals through UFB, and that they traced every package given in order to appropriately track their operations to the agency.
In addition, the Filipino volunteer also emphasized how this food drive strengthened further the spirit of bayanihan in the UAE, with the government and Filipino communities working together to show their solidarity with affected OFWs.
Parcia said that several groups have helped them make the food drive a success, including the Kalayaan Volunteers, sports groups like Bikers, Darts Teams, Photographers, Hoteliers, Basketball teams, Badminton and volleyball teams different Church community groups, other social groups and professionals, as well as several individuals from different walks of life.
“These efforts prove that the spirit of partnership and togetherness in a crisis like this permeates through the Filipino community. I never had a hard time doing all these because we got huge numbers of volunteers. They are there supporting us along the way.
She added that as long as the UAE continues to trust her with such initiatives, she will not stop helping Filipinos in need.
Launched in 2017 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, UFB aims to conduct humanitarian initiatives through partnership with food establishments and charity organizations.
SEE ALSO: 3-month food drive begins in Abu Dhabi
