The Season of Giving Goes Beyond the Holidays

Back in 2009, integrated marketing communications firm TeamAsia and the IT & Business Process Association Philippines (IBPAP) began their project, My Dream in a Shoebox. It is an annual educational campaign that aims to give out shoeboxes with school supplies to help less fortunate Filipino kids to battle poverty through education.

For a while now, Pasig Seventh-day Adventist Church (PSDAC) through its Adventist Community Services (ACS) have been executing various volunteer initiatives. Upon learning that Loc&Stor 24/7 Secure Self-Storage is helping out My Dream in a Shoebox, ACS immediately sought support for the school supplies of the communities they are supporting and nurturing in Pasig City. Late December 2017, My Dream in a Shoebox, through the support of Advance World Solutions Inc., delivered blessings to 549 underprivileged children.

Day 1 of gift-giving: Samahang Looban ng Maybunga

The first gift-giving day was held last December 26, 2017. The MDIAS gifts were given to the children of the Samahang Looban ng Maybunga members, a group of housewives living in the interior part of Maybunga, Pasig in the vicinity of PSDAC. Through this event, 48 children from grades 1 to 6 were reached.

Day 2 of gift-giving: At PSDAC Year-end Party

Four days later, the second program was held during the PSDAC Year-end Party in Santolan, Pasig. The beneficiaries were kids who lived in a community along Anemales, an urban district consistently supported by PSDAC and ACS. Thirty six children from grades 1 to 6 received MDIAS gifts.

Day 3 of gift-giving: Floodway, Maybunga children

The first outreach program of 2018 was held on January 13, where 30 kids from Floodway, Maybunga, Pasig were given school supplies. The children of Barangay Maybunga, Pasig City live along and nearby the Pasig River.

Day 4 of gift-giving: Culminating day

The culminating gift-giving day on January 15, 2018 was the biggest, wherein selected students from Manggahan Elementary School were invited. This school is the newest partner beneficiary of PSDAC and ACS. Four hundred thirty five shoeboxes were apportioned to some of them and were divided as 73 pieces went to grade 1 students; 84 pieces to grade 2 students; 87 pieces to grade 3; 64 pieces to grade 4 students; 65 pieces to grade 5 students; and lastly 62 shoeboxes were handed to grade 6 students.

Through the grace of God, we are looking forward to more opportunities to be a channel of blessings to more kids from remote areas in the country.