Like most people, those who belong in the marginalized community are facing increased uncertainty in terms of economic well-being. This uncertainty varies by legal status. For single grandparent, Anda, and her grandchildren, the imminent threat of the infectious coronavirus has amplified a painful, underlying awareness that while her grandchildren can be a carrier of the virus, she is vulnerable.
Anda Maquera, 62, is part of the growing number of grandparents raising their grandchildren as the primary caregiver. Due to their parents’ lack of proper source of living, Anda took the responsibility to raise her seven grandchildren. Apart from that, she also looks after her 85-year-old mother who lives with them in San Mateo, Rizal.
“Malaking tulong po itong ibinigay ng Operation Blessing kasi hindi po kami makabili ng mga alcohol at mga ganitong shampoo lalo na sa panahon na ‘to ng pandemic. Maraming salamat po,” Anda remarked. (We are thankful to Operation Blessing for providing us this alcohol and shampoo. We really cannot afford to buy these now especially in this time of pandemic.)
The larger dangers of COVID-19 among elderly populations or people with severe illness are by now widely known. Concerningly, marginalized communities experience added complications such as lack of proper sanitation that can affect their health or their ability to prevent the spread of viruses. Being practically aware of the situation, Operation Blessing continues to distribute basic hygiene kits to our kababayans from different communities.
As of this writing, many families have already received food packs and other relief assistance since the onset of the pandemic. However, we recognize that those beneficiaries are not just numbers. They all have their own stories to tell about the struggles they face during this trying time. If you want to share a glimpse of hope or positively impact their journey, we are more than happy to steward the resources you can provide for the benefit of our kababayans.
DONATE NOW through BANKS: http://staging2.obphil.com/home/give-through-banks/ or GIVE ONLINE: http://staging2.obphil.com/home/give-online/.
DSWD-SB-SP-00029-2019 Nationwide
(Photos by Jo Ivan Llaneta)
