Image: Instagram/@catriona_gray
Singer and beauty queen Catriona Gray has assisted the non-profit organization Young Focus Philippines in raising $47,000 (P2.37 million) for 6,000 families in Smokey Mountain, Tondo, Manila.
The “No Work, No Rice” fundraiser gave out rice and other essential items to vulnerable families in the area whose livelihood are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to her Instagram post yesterday, May 25.
The Miss Universe 2018 winner thanked people from all around the world who contributed to the campaign. Gray showed the organization’s effort through a short video accompanied by her song “We’re in this Together”.
Young Focus handed out the necessary supplies to the affected families and replenished these every 10 days. Gray also appealed to people to continue passing on the kindness as the organization aims to continue the initiative until the extended community quarantine has been lifted in Manila.
According to the managing director of Young Focus, Paul Van Wijgerden, the initiative started out “really small” before Gray came into the picture.
“This turned into an amazing huge campaign where so many kilos of rice have been donated to the people here,” Wijgerden said.
Gray added that the organization had been able to give 65,000 kilograms of rice to the families.
Aside from dealing with joblessness, Gray narrated how a fire incident destroyed the homes of 400 people in the area last April. Manuel Manarang, the family care manager of the group, said that it affected over 1,000 people.
The fire also increased the difficulty of living and navigating through these areas. As a response, the organization relocated 50 affected families in a nearby school and supported their daily needs.
Gray also expressed her gratitude to fellow celebrities for contributing to the relief effort by giving food, soaps, face masks and other essential items. These celebrities are actress Kim Chiu, comedian Pooh, celebrity doctor Vicki Belo and more.
“When faced with barriers, we can choose either to stay within our own walls or choose to reach out,” Gray said in her post. “THANK YOU to all of you who have helped us to #PassTheKindness from your homes, to the homes of those in need.”
Meanwhile, Gray is being romantically linked with actor Sam Milby after the latter publicly showed his affection to Gray during his 36th birthday. JB
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