An effort made by the notable ‘buy one, take one’ shawarma store and one of the easiest access to Middle Eastern food, Shawarma Shack, by visiting the affected communities of the recent Taal Volcano eruption, particularly those in Tanauan City, Batangas. The company donated bottled waters and relief goods to over 1,000 families in different areas.

This good effort came from the heart of Shawarma Shack founder Walther Buenavista’s wife, Patricia Buenavista, who has spent her early childhood in Tanauan City. It was disclosed that she has relatives residing in the area when the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) raised the alert level 4 for Taal Volcano on January 12, 2020.

Multiple houses and livelihoods were destroyed, since the volcano started erupting, forcing residents within the 14-kilometer radius from the main crater to immediately evacuate. This is when the Bayanihan spirit blossomed among Filipinos—everyone, even in their little way, lent a helping hand.

Shawarma Shack visited and gave aid to 170 families relocated to La Consolation College, 70 families at Daughters of Mary Immaculate School, 89 families at Tanauan Local Government Unit Evacuation Center, 120 families at Tapia Elementary School in Barangay Trapiche, 98 families at Jesus is Lord Christian School, 45 families at Tanauan City College, 250 families at Pamahalaang Sentral ng Hilagang Tanauan, 98 families at Ulango Elementary School, and 92 families at Pantay Bata Elementary School.

Tanauan City Vice Mayor Atty. Herminigildo “Jun-jun” G. Trinidad assisted the Buenavista family along with other Shawarma Shack volunteers during this relief operation.

Get a glimpse of how Shawarma Shack extended a helping hand to Taal Volcano eruption victims by watching this video.

Visit Shawarma Shack’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more information.