De La Salle University’s Razon Sports Complex is the training facility for the Green Archers and has hosted multiple UAAP events.
On the other hand, the covered courts of College of Saint Benilde are where the Blazers and students play basketball.
But in the face of a crisis, both venues have taken on callings bigger than sports.
When the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center (AJ Kalinga) needed a shelter for the homeless, DLSU and CSB opened their doors and provide a haven for them in the midst of the enhanced community quarantine.
“The AJ Kalinga Center is serving the homeless regularly. Their main ministry is providing food and free showers for the homeless. But now that we are on quarantine, they are looking for shelters for them. They worked with several schools to give them a safe space during the community quarantine,” said La Salle’s Vice President for Lasallian Mission Fritzie De Vera.
As of Monday, there are 79 guests inside Razon Sports Complex and 80 in the covered courts of CSB. Besides the two institutions, St. Scholastica College in Manila also houses a number of guests.
There are also volunteers from AJ Kalinga handling the guests on all sites.
To provide for the daily needs of the guests and the volunteers, the school is asking for donations either in kind or in cash.
“We are requesting for donations in kind or in cash. For donations in kind, we would appreciate cooked meals for them. The center is also providing meals which they get from the cash donations. We provide three meals a day,” De Vera shared.
Many have responded, including several donors who provided mattresses and protective gear; Chooks-to-Go, which provided 50 packs of chicken; and La Salle’s student government, who provided vitamins which will last for 14 days.
In urgent need for the guests are pillows; two industrial rice cookers; two percolators for coffee; packs of garbage bags; medicines for first aid; small bath towels; clothes for men, women, and children; toiletries; and alcohol.
Donations are accepted through:
1) AJ KALINGA FOUNDATION INC.
ASIA UNITED BANK
PESO SAVINGS ACCOUNT NO. 082-11-000496-2
2) PayPal
[email protected]
3) BPI (Congressional Rd Branch)
Savings Account No. 1959-3450-46
