The Rotary Club of Makati Salcedo (RCMS), in partnership with Kabisig ng Kalahi Foundation, conducted its first feeding activity at a Daycare Center in Marcelo 1 Extension in Brgy. Bagumbayan, Taguig City last Sept 25, 2008.  The RCMS Supplemental Feeding Program was actually launched last August 28, 2008 with 30 malnourished children as beneficiaries.  Under the guidance of Social Worker Ignalu Delmaro, the parents and guardians organized themselves and took charge of the marketing, cooking and feeding of the children.

Heavy downpour and flooding did not stop Pres. Edna Gan, IPP Dennis Belmonte and Community Service Director Francisco Abayari Jr  from attending the first feeding day.  Unfortunately, some children were not able to come because their houses were already knee deep in floodwater.  The present Salcedians made sure that the children finished their meals. They were also given a glass of milk each before going home.

“It’s fulfilling to see the smiles on these children's faces,” said Social Worker Ignalu Delmaro.  Upon hearing news of RCMS’ feeding program in their area, she wasted no time in organizing the parents and making sure that the most malnourished ones are attended to first.

They chose to schedule the feeding at 5:00 PM to maximize attendance since school hours are over by then, and also because, most of these children sleep with empty stomachs.  Many of them wait nightly for their parents to come home with dinner, but usually falling asleep without having any food.  Waking up the next day would only emphasize their frustration because parents were not able to bring home food the night before. It’s a vicious cycle.

Now, and at least, for the next six months, the children’s dinner are taken cared of, thus encouraging our Social Worker to enthusiastically focus her support on the RCMS’ feeding program.

To sustain the feeding after the 6-month period, parents and guardians are being taught backyard gardening making use of pots, cans and other similar containers to plant easy-to-grow vegetables, such as pechay, okra and eggplant. Seeds are initially provided by the Barangay Office while RCMS committed to provide more seeds for continuity and help ensure food on the table. It could as well become a source of alternative livelihood for the families.

The Salcedians went home with satisfaction in their hearts knowing that they are supporting a noble cause. Thus, they commit that the feeding program should spread to other depressed areas. RCMS plans to feed 400 more undernourished kids of ages 3 to 6 in the months to come. This is the club’s response to D3830 and RI call to reduce child mortality and Make Dreams Real for our needy children.