"A friend told us about the condition of residents who had been hit hard by the epidemic. Some residents even asked us to buy some food for them," LGBT activist Rajawali Coco told The Jakarta Post on Sunday in Manado.

So the community decided to start a fund-raiser on Facebook to buy basic goods for distributing to people in need. The initiative has received positive responses, especially from friends, families and colleagues.

Coco said that the community raised Rp 7 million (US$451) in cash transfers as soon as they started the fund-raiser.

On the first day of distribution shortly after receiving the donated funds, it delivered 10 packages of staple foods containing rice, cooking oil, canned fish, instant noodles and fresh eggs to 10 affected families.

"We are not [rich], in fact, we are also in need. However, we would like to share with those who have been affected by this difficult situation," said Coco.

He recalled how the story of an elderly woman who lived alone in a shack in Pineleng, Minahasa, went viral after members of the LGBT community visited to deliver some food to her. The viral post eventually caught the eye of the North Sulawesi Social Agency, which then visited the women to deliver aid.

As the community continued to receive donations from people of all walks of life, they drew up a list of people in need, especially the elderly and people who had not received any aid, said Coco.

"We have distributed the [donated funds] in the form of 50 packages of basic goods so far," he said. 

“The last 58 packages will be distributed on April 25," Coco said, adding that the fund-raiser was inclusive and nondiscriminatory, regardless of the donor's social or economical background. (trn)