More than 2,000 beneficiaries received hot meals through a volunteer effort led by Mang Inasal employees in partnership with Jollibee Group Foundation and Kawa Pilipinas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing hunger among vulnerable communities.
Around 40 Mang Inasal employees, led by President Mike V. Castro, volunteered at Kawa Pilipinas' community kitchen in Malate, Manila, preparing and distributing meals to families of patients at the Philippine General Hospital.
Founded during the pandemic, Kawa Pilipinas has grown into a grassroots movement that mobilizes volunteers to provide meals to underserved sectors, including homeless individuals, urban poor communities, children and elderly persons with special needs, persons deprived of liberty, and disaster survivors. Since August 2020, the organization has served nearly 750,000 meals.
"We call them our 'beloveds,' using food as our love language," said Mae Paner, founder and chair of Kawa Pilipinas Foundation.
Mang Inasal’s participation was facilitated by Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF). Kawa Pilipinas is one of JGF’s institutional partners for Jollibee Group FoodAID, through which JGF donates ready-to-cook products, including the chicken guisado used in the meals prepared during the activity. In addition to mobilizing employee volunteers, Mang Inasal donated the rice used for the meals.
Mang Inasal President Mike V. Castro (front row, sixth from right), Kawa Pilipinas Foundation founder Mae Paner (seventh from right), and Jollibee Group Foundation Senior Program Officer Frances Mata (fifth from right) join volunteers during the food pack distribution at the Philippine General Hospital.
"At Mang Inasal, serving food has always been about more than satisfying hunger. It is about bringing people together, making our families and friends feel that they are cared for, and ultimately, making a positive difference in the communities we serve," said Castro. "Through our partnership with Kawa Pilipinas, through the JGF, we can extend that purpose beyond our stores and allow our employees to live out the values of malasakit and service."
Paner also recognized the energy and dedication of the Mang Inasal volunteers, whose participation reflected the company's core values of being Masayahin, Mapagmalasakit, Mahusay, and Buong ang Loob.
The initiative underscores Mang Inasal's continuing commitment to creating meaningful impact in communities, proving that a simple meal can go a long way in bringing comfort, care, and hope to those who need it most.
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