Over 2000 food kits were distributed by LDS Charities to fire victims of Barangays Mantuyong and Guizo in Mandaue City, Cebu on March 28,2016.
Fire broke out in the said barangays in the early hours of dawn on March 12. A fire victim shared that she was selling some of her goods on the streets when someone ran past her yelling about a fire.
"Pagkabalo jud nako nga sa amua dapit, gadali-dali ko ug dagan padong sa among balay. Aw, pag-abot nako wa na among balay, na-ugdaw na tanan. Wa najud koy naluwas (When I found out that it was near our place, I ran as fast as I could to get back. But when I got to our house, everything had already burned to the ground. I didn't get to save anything)," she said with tears in her eyes.
Aside from her, the fire left more than 2,300 families homeless. They are currently accommodated on the grounds of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City where they are using tents, canvas sheets or blankets as shelter from the heat.
Amidst this scenario, Cebu City Governor Hilario Davide III approached LDS Charities for assistance.
LDS Charities responded immediately together with Mormon Helping Hands by repacking 2,500 food kits for the fire victims which they conducted on March 24 and 26 at the Mandaue Stake Center (diocese).
In partnership with the Mandaue Local Government Unit, the food kits were then distributed on March 28 at the CICC grounds.
One mother who was a receipient had a big smile across her face as she carried two kits in her arms. She was closely followed by three of her little kids, each holding a bag of relief goods.
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A government social officer worker of the Department of Social Welfare and Development said, "Well, malipayon jud kaayo ni sila kay di biya lalim masunogan... Maskin unsa ka gamay nga hinabang, dako na jud na siya labi na sa ilaa (Well, they are really happy because it isn't easy to experience a fire...So no matter how small the help may seem, it actually means a lot especially to them).
Along with the food kit donation, LDS Charities also established a soup kitchen at the evacuation area scheduled on Wednesdays and Saturdays to further assist the victims.
Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS Charities is an application of the admonition of Jesus Christ to help others in need. Jesus Christ taught His followers to give meat to the hungry and drink to those who thirst. His is a gospel that includes taking in the stranger, loving neighbors as self, and visiting those who are sick or imprisoned. He taught that we are to love and care for each other, visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions, and lift up those whose hands hang down and whose knees are feeble.