The anti-hunger crusaders
Solving the city’s hunger problem has now become a reality; welcome the food service providers for the poor
After all the festive banter and parties, many of us are often faced with leftovers that we can't finish.
After all the festive banter and parties, many of us are often faced with leftovers that we can't finish. So, what do we do with it—throw it out or keep it in the fridge until it goes stale and inedible? Well, now there’s a much better alternative.
The hunger problem
As citizens of an overly populated city, we know that with increasing number of immigrants moving into the city, many often go unfed. It's an alarming problem, which many non-governmental organisations, corporates and even citizens are taking notice of. Enter, food service providers, who are people, who collect leftover food from parties, hotels and homes and provide it to the poor. While many corporates plan this as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives, a couple of foundations are undertaking this noble task on a large scale. It's time we take note of the do-gooders and lend them a helping hand.
How it all works
The Food for all Campaign, for example, works in tandem with the Mumbai Dabbawala Association (MDA), where they largely deal with leftovers from weddings. “Whenever a wedding takes place, the caterers call on the MDA helpline, after which we visit the place and collect the food,” says Rishikesh Kadam, Founder, Food for all Campaign. A dabbawala collects the food and then distributes it among the pavement dwellers and slum dwellers throughout Mumbai.
Yet another group that has cropped up to join the crusade in eradicating hunger from the city is Samdani Steels. This is a group comprising people who have put their heads together to start providing tiffin services to patients and their relatives who can't afford a decent meal at hospitals. Largely catering to the South Mumbai region, this group has tied up with hospitals like Jaslok, Saifee, Nair and J.J. Hospital.
A cause for the youth
The youth too have joined the bandwagon and are doing their part in ensuring that every person is fed. Feeding India, a youth-based initiative, contributes to the cause by collecting fresh and nutritious food from weddings, restaurants, caterers, supermarkets and wholesalers . They then deliver it to the disadvantaged, lesser privileged people across the city. However, what makes this entire idea unique is that the food is checked thoroughly and every effort is made to preserve its taste and quality.
Do your bit
With social media making almost everything possible, donation to this cause can be done with just a few clicks.
Food for all Campaign:
Contact: 75067 44566, 98672 21210
Samdani Steels:
Contact: 99672 36006, 98206 45070, 90293 73751.
Feeding India:
Visit their website: www.facebook.com/feedingindia1/
Contact: 90150 26026
Be sensitive
1. 40 per cent of all food goes to waste in India. This is enough to feed one-third of the poor.
2. 194.6 million people go hungry every day.
3. One out of four children in India are malnourished.