Exactly 100 days before Christmas, at which we begin the countdown here in the Philippines, a giant mall chain unveiled its program that aims to uplift frontliners, organizations, and communities in need.
For SM Supermalls’ 100 Days of Caring and Giving, 76 malls across the country pledged to make 100 acts of kindness by giving gifts and assistance to their chosen beneficiaries.
SM North Edsa pledged to give 100 pairs of World Balance rubber shoes to seniors from Graces Home for the Elderly in Quezon City, while SM Megamall, The Podium, and SM Center Pasig each chose 100 delivery riders to gift with 100 sets of raincoats and rain boots.
Pasay-based SM Mall of Asia, meanwhile, is preparing 100 care packages containing face masks, face shields, Ensure milk, vitamins, supplements, and more for senior citizens within the community.
SM Southmall selected SOS Children’s Villages to receive various story and educational books.
Other SM malls in Metro Manila and those in Rizal chose orphanages, namely Asociacion De Damas Filipinas, Bahay Aruga, White Cross Orphanage, and The Little Children’s Home to each receive 100 toys and essential goods prepared by SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta. Mesa, SM City Taytay, and SM Center Angono.
In North Luzon, 100 Aeta families from Zambales and Tarlac will be given grocery packs by SM City Olongapo Downtown, SM City Olongapo Central, and SM City Tarlac.
Fishermen in Pangasinan will be handed with fishing supplies by SM City Rosales, SM City Urdaneta Central, and SM Center Dagupan; while select tricycle and jeepney drivers in Bulacan will be given 100 pairs of shoes by SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag, and SM Center Pulilan.
The Deaf and Blind Foundation Philippines will receive 100 Braille books from SM City Bacoor. Other SM malls in South Luzon will be giving 100 various seedlings to farmers, 100 grocery packs to vaccination center volunteers, and 100 supplementary school materials to teachers, among others.
SM City Puerto Princesa picked displaced tourism personnel to help with 100 grocery packs.
Over in Visayas, SM City Cebu will bring smiles to kids of Kythe Foundation with 100 toys, while SM City Iloilo will give 100 sacks of 25kg rice to healthcare and peace and order frontline workers.
In Mindanao, SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier will be handing out 100 farming tools to local farmers, and SM City Butuan will be giving 100 Fiesta Food Packs to Por Cristo Foundation, Inc. Other beneficiaries are healthcare workers and IPs (indigenous peoples).
During the virtual launch of the program, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat commended SM Supermalls for its initiative, while mental health advocate Dr. Gia Sison talked about the benefits of giving as part of ways to cope with stress amid the pandemic.
