The continuum of support- with food as the front and center of humanitarian efforts, complements the essential need to give hope to individuals and families needing assistance. Even in prominent cities in Canada, food insecurity has become a significant health crisis as more people nowadays feel the pinch of persistent inflation.
Food is a common trend in the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation’s volunteering work.
In the spirit of unity and the biblical mandate of helping and being kind to our fellowmen, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) or Church of Christ hosts Care for Humanity events thru the FYM Foundation, the Church’s humanitarian arm. Together, they organize significant events that foster a sense of community and respond to food insecurity crises in defined cities across Canada.
The program includes providing shelf-stable food items like pasta, rice, and canned goods; hygiene articles; winter care clothing to thousands of people; and financial assistance, mainly to food banks, shelters, and community centers.
With the dynamic leadership of INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, the Church has witnessed more prominent activities in the past years; the FYM Foundation and the team of volunteers & donors have assembled and distributed close to 45,000 care packages across Canada. These bags provide warmth and essential supplies for the homeless, less fortunate, and those impacted by the fast inflationary times to survive on the streets.
Care For Humanity in Calgary, Alberta, January 15, 2023
The year opener of Care for Humanity was held on January 15, 2023, at the TELUS Convention Center in Calgary. Brother Voltaire A. Tamisin, INC Minister of the Gospel who oversees the Church’s congregations throughout the Calgary region, hosted about 2000 people.
The brethren and their guests, curious to learn about the Church Of Christ, listened to the bible exposition officiated by Brother Voltaire Tamisin. The lesson declared, “…the greatest way we can give back to others is by helping them find salvation through times of hardship and calamities.”
The attendees– recent immigrants, refugees, clients of shelters, and international students received care packages of essential food and hygiene articles.
While the five organizations: Hope Mission, Calgary Drop-In, Action4Humanity, Community Wise, and Mustard Seed, were gifted a financial donation of $3,000.00 each to assist with the purposes of their non-profit organizations.
As noted by one of the recipients of the financial donation, Gulya Taubaldieba, Development Officer of Mustard Seed, during the trying times, “social agencies have seen a high spike of the need for food and hygiene products.” Grateful for the cheque the organization received, Gulya noted it would create an impact in supporting their goals.
The Philippine Consul General in Calgary, Zaldy Patron, awed in his first attendance for this kind of event, quoted:
“This is my first engagement with the Philippine’s Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, through your Care for Humanity event and I’m so thankful to all of you and to the executive minister, Ka Eduardo Manalo for organizing this event. I know that you were able to distribute about 1200 care packages today. And that means a lot, to many of our kababayans and even the non-Filipinos, as we know are suffering because of the economic difficulties these days. As we know, the inflation is high in this part of the world, all over Canada.“
Leo Trinidad, a guest, reflected on the goodness of feeding the body and soul from the Care for Humanity event.
Brother Voltaire Tamisin, also a Director of the FYM Foundation, noted that Care for Humanity project inspires the members of the Church to fulfill the purpose and words of God to extend a helping hand to our fellowmen and intensify the work of propagation.
INC Calgary District’s Supervising Minister, Brother Voltaire Tamisin, also a Director of the FYM Foundation, notes that Care for Humanity project inspires the members of the Church to fulfill the words of God to extend a helping hand to our fellowmen and intensify work of propagation (Photo courtesy of INCMS, 20230115)
More than 1,500 people filled Telus Convention Center to the brim in attendance for Care for Humanity and Evangelical Mission, sponsored by the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, the humanitarian arm of the Church of Christ (photo courtesy of INCMS, 20230115)
TELUS Convention Center, Calgary, Alberta–The FYM Foundation donated non-profit organizations’ leaders and representatives $2,000.00 on behalf of Hope Mission, Calgary Drop-In, Action4Humanity, CommunityWise, and Mustard Seed. (Photo courtesy of INCMS, 20230115)
Care for Humanity in Surrey, British Columbia
The following week, January 30, the INC in the District of British Columbia held its Care for Humanity and an evangelical mission at the Aria Banquet Hall, Surrey, BC. The said event gathered more than 1,500 people who picked up free care packages after the event.
Brother Moriel Cadacio, in an interview, thanked Brother Eduardo V. Manalo for his singular vision of alleviating poverty in various parts of the world.
More robust charitable events are happening in various cities in Canada, as follows: Toronto on February 5, Edmonton on February 12, and Ottawa on February 19, 2023.
2023 January 30, Aria Banquet Hall: Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), District of British Columbia’s supervising minister, Brother Moriel Cadacio (8th from right), ministers of the gospel, evangelical workers, staff, organizers and volunteers pose for a quick photo opportunity after the Care for Humanity event.