The Story Behind Flip-Flop and Feed

The Past Inspires the Present

I started teaching back in the Philippines around 1991. I was assigned to a very remote area in one of the districts of Davao Del Sur somewhere in Malita, and I remembered that most of my students would come to school barefoot, without school supplies, and some didn’t even have food to eat for lunch. So, while I was there, I made a promise to myself that I would do something for school-aged children so that they will no longer go to school without shoes or flip-flops and that they will have school supplies that they can use for learning.

Years later, God blessed me with the opportunity to move to the United States. From then on, every time we returned home to the Philippines, we always stopped by and fed children in public schools or indigent areas and provided at least one or two feedings. We often went home every two years, and each time, we offered food to around 50 to 100 children.

My first feeding program started back in the late 1990s, roughly between 1998 and 2007. When we returned to the Philippines in 2010, we started the feeding program again. Eventually, my daughter took over and conceptualized Flip-Flop and Feed-in 2016.

Above: After a three-year hiatus, we returned to the Philippines in 2010 and conducted a feeding charity.

The Name: "Flip-Flop and Feed"

In 2021, my daughter informed me she wanted to add shoes to our "feeding charity." She noticed that many of the children had either torn shoes and flip-flops, or were barefoot. However, we both understood that brand new shoes were not the best option for children because they would only wear them often or for special occasions and quickly grow out of them as they aged. Flip-flops, on the other hand, or tsinelas were everyday wear. Therefore, kids would be able to wear and use flip-flops to the fullest extent. Because this footwear is so essential for the everyday Filipino/a, they fit the culture and mission of the charity better. Soon after that conversation, Flip-Flop and Feed (Fifty) was born!

Feed their Soles and Minds: No child who chooses to pursue education has to walk with torn footwear or sit in a classroom with no supplies. Education is a worthy investment to change a child's future and his or her family's life, and Flip-Flop and Feed strives to be a part of that life-changing experience.

Mission: Inspire children to pursue their education.

Vision: Break the cycle of poverty.

When my daughter formed our charity, Flip-Flop and Feed, we added flip-flops into our biyearly ‘feedings’ and provided them with food and school supplies. Since my daughter was able to go home every year between 2016-2019, we, therefore, held a Flip-Flop and Feed each consecutive year. Due to the pandemic, we could not travel in 2020, but my daughter was fortunate enough to go back to the Philippines in 2021 and we did two feedings in November in indigent areas, accompanied by the village social worker.

Each year, our average number of children in attendance is 50, which adds to the alliteration in “Flip-Flop and Feed Fifty.” However, some feedings include 55-60 children, and we are always enthusiastic to cater to more than fifty children. As the years continue and blessings pour in as donations, we provide flip-flops, toys, books, flip-flops, and school supplies each year to you Flip-Flop and Feed Fifty.

We would like to thank all our major sponsors, especially Miss Jasmine Long who has been our sponsor since 2010 when we started this Program. We would also like to thank new sponsors who have been giving us or donating a lot of books, toys, and clothes so that we can share them with less fortunate children in our hometown Digos City, Philippines.