Jollibee brings cheer to typhoon-hit schools

MANILA, Philippines - Now on its 15th year, the country‘s biggest and longest-running toy and book donation drive is taking its spirit of giving to new heights through the Jollibee MaAga ang Pasko Caravan. To bring Christmas joy to those who need it most, Jollibee will visit over 35 schools in selected typhoon-affected areas in Metro Manila and Luzon bearing toys and books.

“Having seen the effects of the recent calamities on the lives of children, we decided to depart from our usual grand bash by bringing the celebration to them,“ shares Albert Cuadrante, Jollibee marketing vice president. Jollibee MaAga ang Pasko has gained such influence over the years and it is important for all of us at Jollibee, and to Aga Muhlach, that the campaign becomes not just a conduit of gifts, but also of hope to these kids and their families especially this 2009.“

So far, nearly 40,000 toys and books have been collected since this year‘s MaAga ang Pasko started. More importantly, Jollibee has committed to add one toy for every donation made, so this figure is expected to grow bigger in the coming weeks.

Beyond the toy and book collection, the MaAga ang Pasko campaign also initiated the Volunteer Clean-Up drive, where members of the media, partner schools and companies, Jollibee Foods Corp. and Jollibee Foundation cleaned and prepared collected gifts for their beneficiaries. This made sure that the toys and books were as good as new and ready for distribution.

The Jollibee MaAga ang Pasko Caravan is ongoing until Dec. 18, visiting mostly elementary schools, including those in Benguet, Pangasinan, Zambales, Laguna, Marikina and Pasig.

Toys and books to be distributed through the caravan were donated by caring citizens through their nearest Jollibee stores or through the Jolly Toy Scouts. The Jolly Toy Scouts are ambassadors, young and old alike, who have been helping collect and prepare the gifts since the campaign began.

The sets of brand new workbooks and thousands of school supplies — especially packaged by National Book Store — that will be distributed to some schools were all made possible with the support of the Jollibee Foundation, Jollibee Franchisees Association as well as volunteers from the Jollibee Business Unit and Jollibee Worldwide Services, Inc.

Toys and books will also be given to additional school beneficiaries selected by the campaign‘s partner schools, as well as to the kids under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Another component of the Christmas caravan is the classroom rebuilding project spearheaded by Jollibee, in tandem with the Jollibee Foundation, Jollibee Franchisees Association and Aga. This gives the students of eight schools in the hardest-hit areas newly reconstructed classrooms, some of which were repainted by employee volunteers. The actor will also be joining most of these visits.

“This is a timely thing for us to do given the past calamities that these kids and their families have faced,” Aga says. “The star here is really the people. We‘ve seen kung gaano talaga magtulungan ang Pinoy and I‘ve always seen that with Jollibee MaAga ang Pasko. It‘s good that through this caravan, I, Jollibee and caring Filipinos everywhere get to remind these children and their families that there will always be Christmas to make everything brighter.“