Nourishing Communities, Safeguarding Health: UDM CARES Empowers Pantry & Soup Kitchen Volunteers Through Food Safety Training

By: Cecile Carpo

As part of the UDM CARES Extension Program, the Universidad de Manila proudly reinforces its commitment to service, compassion, and community empowerment through the recent Food Handling Training for Community Pantry and Soup Kitchen volunteers. This program ensures that the university’s outreach efforts provide not only nourishment, but also safe, hygienic, and properly prepared meals to those who need them most. By equipping volunteers with essential knowledge in sanitation, food preparation, and handling procedures, UDM ensures that community feeding activities uphold the highest standards of public health and safety.

This initiative directly advances several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its focus on safe and nutritious food distribution, health promotion, and community empowerment. Primarily, it supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by strengthening UDM’s community pantry and soup kitchen efforts, ensuring that food provided to vulnerable groups is safe, nutritious, and responsibly prepared. By teaching proper hygiene, sanitation, and food handling techniques, the training also advances SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), as it reduces risks of foodborne illnesses and promotes public health within the community. In addition, the program aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by offering continuous professional and skills development for volunteers, reinforcing UDM’s commitment to lifelong learning and service-oriented training.

The initiative also addresses SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by supporting feeding programs that benefit underserved and marginalized groups, ensuring that access to safe food remains equitable and inclusive. It strengthens SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by fostering volunteerism, compassion, and resilience within local communities, building a support network that contributes to social sustainability. Moreover, the emphasis on proper food management practices aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), promoting minimized food waste, safe food handling, and ethical community service. Finally, the program demonstrates SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by integrating efforts of different university units, employees, and community stakeholders, proving that collaborative action is essential to uplifting communities and addressing hunger and health challenges.

Through the UDM CARES Extension Program, the University reaffirms its unwavering dedication to building healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities—one meal, one training, and one act of service at a time.