Anyone who is hungry can eat at the Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (dswd), even every day.
The pilot food bank has been serving free meals to an average 400 people daily since it opened on 16 December 2024. The food served are donated by Jollibee, McDonald’s, other restaurants and food manufacturers as part of a public-private partnership to fight hunger in the country.
Other partners are Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc., Nestle Philippines Inc., Century Pacific Food Inc., Monde Nissin Corporation, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Hotel Owners Association and Unilever.
WGK focal person Ramil Mapoy said DSWD and its partners are fine-tuning the operation of the food bank to improve its service and plan to expand it after the three-month pilot test that ends in March this year.
Mapoy said surplus food are being accepted from donors and the public is welcome to volunteer as staff to sustain the project. No less than the First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos volunteered together with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian during the opening. They served meals to diners.
Volunteers for cook and helpers are also welcome to prepare hot meals starting at 4 a.m.
WGK opens at 6 a.m. on weekdays and serves free hot meals until supply lasts. Anyone can eat at the kitchen and walk-in diners are not screened, according to Mapoy.
The WGK program goes beyond just feeding the hungry. DSWD staff are on hand to assess the needs of homeless individuals, strategically plan interventions, and track their overall well-being and development progress.