They met each other here in the US, got married, and had 2 kids (one being me). Growing up, my parents always told me how lucky I am to be in America and how hard it was for them growing up in a third world country. They always told me not to take anything for granted as there are kids in other countries that don’t have food on the table, clothes on their backs, or a roof over their heads. Being young, I didn’t truly understand what they meant until my first visit to The Philippines in middle school. I saw poverty at first hand and kids begging on the streets for food and money. I finally understood what my parents meant when they said “to count my blessings.”
Since middle school, I have been back to The Philippines numerous of times. Each time I go, I think about what I can do to help those in need. I donate to organizations and give money or food to kids on the streets. I believe that every bit counts. After my last trip to the Philippines in January 2011, I realized that I wanted to do more to help those in need. During this trip, my mom, cousin Angie, and I went to visit for the first time Hilltop Elementary School in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines to see the classrooms for the 2nd graders my parents had built. The principal took us on a tour of the classrooms and introduced us to the students. She was telling us that most of the students come from “dump sites.” Dump sites mean that they search through trash in order to survive. Most of the students have to walk around 5 miles in the heat and or rain, just to go to school. I noticed how some of them didn’t even have flip flops (primary footwear) on and walk to school barefooted and hungry. It was also brought to our attention that in a family where there are more than one school age kids, only one at a time is chosen and allowed to go to school because their parents can't afford the cost of school supplies, food and book allowances. This brought tears to my eyes. The next day, my mom, cousin, and I went to the store and bought flip flops for the students in the 2nd grade. A few days later we delivered the flip flops to the kids and they were full of smiles! We also bought them spaghetti from Jollibee (The McDonalds of The Philippines) and many of the students had never tried Jollibee. They didn’t even know how to eat spaghetti. Seeing how thankful and happy they were brought more tears to my eyes. We also donated school supplies as the school does not have enough funding for these, which are essential tools for education. Fast forward to today…I have now teamed up with Feed the Hungry, Inc. to help me raise money for Hilltop Elementary School in Mindoro, Philippines. Feed the Hungry’s Mission is:
To uplift the spirit and well-being of the poorest of the poor; the abused and the desolate through gift-giving, livelihood, nutritional and educational programs, classroom and housing projects, natural disaster relief and medical assistance. http://www.feedthehungryphil.org/about/mission.htm
Facts on Hilltop Elementary:
• Located in San Jose Occidental Mindoro, Philippines • Failure Rate 93.38% • Majority of students are from Dump Sites who are scavengers. Money raised will go towards:
• Food • School supplies • Textbooks • Rain coats (majority of students walk to school rain or shine) • Flip Flops • Other essential needs
Please help me raise money. I want to change the lives of these kids to assist them in passing school so that they can live a better life. I will be going back to The Philippines in January 2012 with my mom and Angie and we would like to donate items with the money raised to Hilltop Elementary School. Donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Receipts will be mailed to you. If you would like to donate, please make checks payable to Feed the Hungry, Inc. and in the memo line write “Hilltop Elementary School” to donate to my specific project. Mail checks to Feed the Hungry, Inc. 3914 9th Street South, Arlington, VA 22204. You can also donate online at the link below. If you would like the money to go to my specific project, it is IMPORTANT to email percy0626@gmail.com after donating and let them know that you would like the funds to go to “Hilltop Elementary School.” Otherwise, money received without specifying Hilltop Elementary School will go towards another project. http://www.feedthehungryphil.org/donate/donatenow.htm
I thank you for your time and hope to change the lives of the needy.
