SM Community Riders help displaced workers ride their way through the pandemic

SM Community Riders help displaced workers ride their way through the pandemic

How do you feel about this story?

Like
Love
Haha
Wow
Sad
Angry

These pandemic days, shopping has changed immensely. Now more than ever, customers are looking for safe and convenient ways to shop whether in the mall or online. But who are you gonna call if you aren’t allowed to go out just yet?

SM has got you covered because, now you can simply avail of their online shopping services, including takeout and deliveries, and personal shopper program, and have your essentials delivered straight to your home by SM’s ever-reliable Community Riders!

Yes, you read that right, you now have the option to call any of hundreds of workers who have found a new source of livelihood by working as an SM Community Rider in select SM malls around the country.

SM Community Riders will take care of your shopping needs and deliver the items straight to your doors. They can also help with running errands in the mall, such as bill payments, buying medicines and picking up takeaway restaurant food. SM Supermalls has partnered with over 1,000 riders in North and South Luzon as well as in Mindanao.
Some of these riders include repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers, as well as construction workers, tricycle and jeepney drivers, magicians and party hosts, and even professional basketball coaches who currently have no jobs because of the pandemic.

“It has always been a part of SM’s mission to not only provide essential services, but to also serve as an enabling environment for the community by providing opportunities to those who need it. With the public health crisis, everyone has a role to play so that our country will continue to thrive during the pandemic. We have to work together to help our communities and make sure that nobody is left behind,” said Steven Tan, SM Supermalls president.

More than just shopping and delivery, SM’s decision to partner with displaced workers have also become a source of inspiration and morale for the community. Many of the riders have shown strength and determination to support and help their families amid trying times.

Melody Fortun, a mom of two, provides for her family by working as a personal shopper at SM City Dasmariñas.

Several SM riders include women like Melody Fortun at SM City Dasmariñas. Fortun is a single mom who is supporting her two daughters and her own mother. Even though Fortun’s dad recently passed away, she says, “Tuloy pa rin po ang buhay para sa tatlong pinakamahagang tao sa buhay ko.”

Married-couple-slash-tandem-riders Junel and Joan Abroso of SM City Legazpi work day and night to support the needs of their household.

Even more have stories like John Xavier Abling of SM City Lucena and married couple, Junel and Joan Abroso, of SM City Legazpi. During the enhanced community quarantine, Abling temporarily lost his job as a seaman and became a rider to help raise funds to pay for the hospital bills of his child who has acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Also looking to provide for their daughter, the Abrosos work hard as husband-and-wife tandem riders for SM with Junel working during the day and Joan at night.

WestBat Delivery Services riders from SM Center Lemery donate meals to frontliners of Metro Lemery Medical Center. poop

Despite their hardships in life, some of the riders even came together to support others. SM Center Lemery, in partnership with Greenwich, offered a free chicken meal for every P1,000 delivery order. The riders of SM Center Lemery’s delivery partner, WestBat Delivery Services, chose to donate all their meals since the start of the program to Metro Lemery Medical Center to show their gratitude to the frontliners.

For his part, Cyril Dela Cruz of SM City Trece Martires shares, “SM yung tumulong sa akin nung mga panahong walang-wala na akong mahugot para sa pamilya ko.” He adds, “Ano man ang mangyari sa mundo, meron pa rin tayong kapwa na tutulong at tutulong sayo sa oras ng kagipitan. Kung kayang gawin sa akin ng SM ay kaya ko din gawin sa iba ang pagtulong.”

SM City Trece Maritres rider Cyril Dela Cruz thanks SM for providing jobs and opportunities to those in need amid the pandemic.

If you want to support the riders and hire them for your needs, or if you want to become a rider with SM, visit the official Facebook page of your local SM branch for more details. For more information, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.