Oregon acupuncture patient, clinic owners team up to help the poor in PH

Acupuncture patient Jan Bisconer (not in photo), who grew up in the Philippines, and Gateway Acupuncture owners Leling and Cole Magbanua are hosting a fundraising event for poor people in the Philippines from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6.

A Portland,Oregon resident and acupuncture patient has teamed up with the owners of Gateway Acupuncture, in Gresham, Oregon, to host “More than a Meal a Day,” a fundraiser to help feed the hungry in the Philippines.

Acupuncture patient Jan Bisconer, who grew up in the Philippines, and Gateway Acupuncture owners Leling and Cole Magbanua are hosting the event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at Acupuncture Gateway 1024 N.E. Division St., Gresham, Oregon.

“More than a Meal a Day” is free to the public and will include live music, food for sale, a piñata for the kids and a dunk tank. Although the event is free, organizers are asking attendees to donate $10 per person, if they can. All the proceeds will go directly to getting food to people in need in the Philippines.

COVID-19 lockdowns, lack of government support and being one of the poorest counties in Asia even before the pandemic contributed to the food scarcity in the Philippines.

When Bisconer heard about what was going on in the Philippines, she immediately connected with Leling Magbanua to have a fundraiser.

“The people in Philippines who have family outside the country can usually send food to help,” Magbanua said. “But those who don’t can’t get any food and I feel so bad for them.”