Food relief drive for Filipinos impacted by the COVID-19 crisis organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul

Food pack recipients from the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul’s relief drive on 22 May 2020, in coordination with the Filipino Community groups in Istanbul, collected from various pick-up points, namely: the FICASCA Office in Ortabayir; Besiktas; Taksim; and Resitpasa. (Istanbul PCG photo)

The Consulate General in Istanbul, in coordination with the Filipino International Charity for Social, Culture and the Arts (FICASCA), and with the assistance of members of the Filipino Students in Turkey (FST), and the Moro International Students Association (MISA), likewise assembled and distributed more emergency relief food packs from May 20-22, 2020 to 100 Filipinos in Istanbul who suffered unemployment due to COVID-19.

From left: Ms. Salve Caraig, single mom with a two year old child and has had no work since COVID-19 outbreak, receives a food pack from FICASCA’s home deliveries. FICASCA was allocated 20 packs from the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul’s 100 food pack donation, sourced from out of pocket donations of the Consulate’s personnel. Ms. Asuncion R. de Guzman, 79 years old, also receives a food pack from FICASCA’s house to house drops. Person under self-quarantine Ms. Rona Santos of Fatih, Istanbul receives food packs. (Istanbul PCG photo)

The Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul with student members of the Filipino Students of Turkey (FST), Moro International Students Association (MISA), and FICASCA repack food items for the Consulate’s first food relief drive of 100 food packs for distribution to various Filipino Community groups in Istanbul. (Istanbul PCG photo)

The Philippine Consulate General with the support of various Filipino Community groups in Istanbul, organized the first food drive back in April, providing 100 food packs to members of the Filipino community. The donated 100 food packs in April, sourced from out of pocket donations of the Consulate’s personnel, included 20 packs care of Kabalikat Civicom and Coordinator Ms. Joan Jardin for Resitpasa and Yenikoy areas; 20 packs care of Filipino Community in Turkey or FCT (Mr. Wahid’s WG Delta and JB’s Payporter) for Gultepe and Celiktepe areas; 20 packs care of FICASCA-for single moms and students; 20 packs care of Filipino Medical Team Istanbul or FMTI/Golden Women/Budz Girls and Ms. Josephine Mercado/Sender for Besiktas area; ten packs care of Ms. Annabelle Duque’s Bayanihan sa Turkey; and ten packs care of Ms. Elma Trinidad’s house for Gultepe area.

The Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul endorses 20 food packs to Ms. Josephine Mercado, designated pick up point of relief goods for affected Filipinos in Besiktas, Istanbul; 16 food packs to Ms. Lucila “Babyluz” Macalinao and her family, designated pick up point in Taksim, Beyoglu; and eight food packs to Ms. Teresa Macalinao, designated pick-up point in Resitpasa/Sariyer, Istanbul. (Istanbul PCG photo)

The Consulate General, which only has three personnel, requested help from student members of the FST, MISA, and FICASCA in repacking food items for the Consulate’s first food relief drive.

Meanwhile, the emergency food relief drive in May 2020 was conducted in anticipation of the four-day lockdown in Turkey from 23 to 26 May 2020 due to the end of Ramadan. Aside from the Consulate, FICASCA and Bayanihan sa Turkey also distributed food packs to 150 and 82 recipients, respectively.

The 100 recipients of the Consulate food packs were allocated in Kagithane; Besiktas; Sisli; Taksim; Resitpasa; Esenyurt and Avcilar; and Uskudar and Kavacik. Distribution points were through the FICASCA offices in Ortabayir, Kagithane; Besiktas through Ms. Josephine Mercado; Taksim through Ms. Lucila Macalinao; and Resitpasa through Ms. Teresa Macalinao.

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