Share Your Extras reaches Odette-hit communities in VisMin (Sabong News)

The SM Store continues to extend its support by distributing more than 100,000 clothes from the Share Your Extras donation drive. The team started with Surigao del Norte where Typhoon Odette made landfall, displacing thousands of families and impacting their source of livelihood. Taking boats to get to Nonoc Island and weathering out the disturbed ocean waters, employee volunteers brought with them clothes donated by shoppers from The SM Store Butuan and South Luzon branches in Lipa, Batangas, Lucena, and San Pablo. The team matched the donations with toys and books to delight the kids. “ . ” said Barangay Captain Eddie Gulfo of Barangay San Pedro. Barangay Captain Noel Detuya of Barangay Cantiasay also shared how the community is working hard to bounce back through sheer determination and generosity of their . “ ” he added. “The communities we visited in Surigao del Norte are starting to rebuild their lives, and we are very humbled to be taking part in their journey to recovery through Share Your Extras,” said Tony Bacaling, The SM Store Butuan assistant branch manager. “It is heartwarming to be the bridge between our who have been impacted by a disaster and those who want to help them get back on their feet.” Collection from The SM Store Metro Manila branches landed in Palawan and Visayas, with the distribution to communities spearheaded by the local branches in the region. Through The SM Store Puerto Princesa, donations from San Lazaro, Taytay, Masinag, and Marikina branches reached the beneficiaries in Barangay Tagumpay and Barangay Magara in Roxas, Palawan. Clothes from other Metro Manila branches, such as Mall of Asia, Sucat, Bicutan, North Edsa, Fairview, and Novaliches were distributed in Visayas. Recipients include residents from Barangay Tolotolo in Cebu; Panay Bukidnon indigenous peoples in Calinog, Iloilo; far-flung community in San Remegio, Antique; Sitio Paril in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental; and Unisan Island in Guimaras. To ensure that donations from San Mateo and Grand Central branches reach the recipients, The SM Store worked closely with local partners: Carlo Cares Foundation in the Municipality of San Enrique, City Social Welfare and Development Office in Himamaylan City, and the local government unit of the Municipality of Ilog for Negros Occidental; and Charity Riding Community, Christ Centered Fellowship, and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) for Guimaras and Iloilo. From the branches in south Luzon such as Molino, Rosario, Bacoor, Calamba, Dasmarinas, clothing donations from The SM Store shoppers were brought to the beneficiaries in Bagobo Klata tribe in Catalunan Pequeño and Siargao Island. The company also worked with the local Department of Social Welfare and Development to bring clothes from The SM North Baliwag to families in Tugbok District, Davao. Meanwhile, donations from other north Luzon branches such as Baguio, Tarlac, Pampanga, and Cabanatuan were distributed in Odette-hit communities in Cagayan de Oro. Ma Cecilia Abreu, The SM Store vice president for operations in Visayas expressed her gratitude for the opportunity for local branches to take part in community programs. “Through The SM Store’s corporate social responsibility programs such as Share Your Extras, we are able to connect with and give back to communities not just in areas where SM is present, but those that truly need help,” she said. Share Your Extras program, which ran from January 15 to February 28 for the benefit of Odette-hit communities, received an overwhelming support from The SM Store shoppers and partner organizations nationwide. For every donation, they received a P100 discount coupon that can be redeemed at their next minimum P1,000 denim purchase in-store or via The SM Store Personal Shopper. Over 100,000 clothes were collected, which are currently being distributed in affected areas in Visayas and Mindanao.