Where a shared meal becomes an act of care

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — For children living under the care of Helping Hands Healing Hearts Ministries Philippines Inc., a shared meal can mean more than food on the table.

It can also be a reminder that people outside the walls of the residential care facility are willing to take part in their journey.

That was the message behind a feeding activity led by iFM Baguio, with SM City Baguio as a partner, for children under the ministry’s care.

The activity was conducted through the Ma. Corrina Canoy Feeding Program, according to SM Supermalls.

Helping Hands is a faith-based, non-governmental organization that works with children in crisis situations and their families from across the Philippines.

Founded in September 2002 and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Registration No. CN200411824, the organization provides crisis care and services that include trauma-informed support, medical assistance and family preservation, according to information published by the ministry.

Its work extends beyond providing a place of care.

The organization also seeks to address the needs of children and families as they navigate difficult circumstances, with programs that include social work, nutrition, education, counseling and efforts toward family preservation and reunification, according to its published materials.

For Jemimah Posnayan, coordinator of Helping Hands Healing Hearts Ministry, support from outside partners can make a practical difference in the ministry’s daily work.

“As someone who works closely with the children and families in the community, having partners that support us through humanitarian works like feeding programs is much appreciated. It is an encouragement to us that we are not alone in the mission field. We have supporters who uplift us and help us make a difference in the lives of the children we serve,” Posnayan said.

The assistance also helps the ministry manage some of its everyday expenses, she said.

“It is not just an ordinary meal. It is an effort our partners provide which helps us lessen an expense for the day,” Posnayan said.

The feeding activity was held under the Ma. Corrina Canoy Feeding Program, which honors the late Ma. Corrina Canoy, wife of RMN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Enrico O. Canoy.

The program provides feeding activities in communities and forms part of the RMN Foundation’s corporate social responsibility initiatives under its Radyo SustanSaya pillar.

iFM Baguio Station Manager Wingard Tiburcio said partnerships with organizations such as SM City Baguio help extend the program’s reach.

“Partners like SM City Baguio help us extend this advocacy to more children and families. Their support strengthens our ability to provide nutritional feeding activities and reach more communities, helping us make a lasting difference in children’s well-being,” Tiburcio said.

For Posnayan, however, the significance of feeding programs goes beyond the meal itself.

“For us, feeding programs are not only a traditional culture to help during crisis but it is where people wanted to be part of the story. The children we serve will forever be grateful and will always remember that Helping Hands is also composed of community involvement,” she said.

In that sense, a meal becomes a point of connection — between children facing difficult circumstances, an organization caring for them and members of the wider community willing to help.

The Baguio activity was one such moment, providing immediate assistance while giving community partners an opportunity to take part in the broader work of supporting children and families in crisis.