Most of us are not mindful about our next meal. We have the luxury to go to the fridge, order a meal, or make a quick dinner. It’s probably not the case for the millions of people in India. Daily wage workers, families who have no home, the elderly, and even the relatives who are outside the hospitals waiting for their loved ones, go a whole day without eating. An NGO for food is tackling this issue as best they can and ensuring that the community that they serve doesn’t have to sleep hungry.
Food should not be the least of our worries, but the fact that millions of people are neglected in our population boom should speak volumes. In this article we’ll take a deeper look at the importance of food support, the organizations who are on the ground helping the most, and the ways in which you can support this important mission.
Getting A Deeper Look At Hunger In Your Community
Oftentimes, we assume that hunger has to do with famine, extreme deprivation, and impoverishment, occurring overseas. This isn’t the case. It’s the construction worker who has to skip his lunch so that he can afford to send his children to school, or the elderly woman who only gets to eat one meal a day because that’s the extent of her pension, or the family that has to get medical treatment and now has no money for food.
Rising food prices exacerbate the problem. Poor families are quick to cut back on food purchases when there are price hikes on basic necessities like cooking oil, pulses, and vegetables. The less nutritious food they switch to ends up creating chronic health problems for the entire family and especially impacts children causing them to become weak and ill and stunted in their physical growth. This insidiously impacts all aspects of the family like health, educational attainment, and their ability to earn a living.
A Social Welfare NGO that specializes in food understands the difficulties these families face. Rather than waiting for these families to come to them for assistance, they go to the slums, hospitals, railway stations, and labor colonies to find those that they think would benefit the most from a meal. Addressing the issue of hunger as a societal problem as opposed to an individual's failure has helped them provide meals without shame to those who they serve.
How Food-Focused NGOs Work on the Ground
To help feed 100s of people requires a lot of dedication and planning. Behind a fairly simple meal is a big volunteer and donor supported service.
Community Kitchens and Daily Meal Service
Many groups have community kitchens where food for the day is prepared fresh and served at no cost to the community. Food is prepared in a safe and clean environment. The meals prepare and serve pulao, dal, chapati, vegetables, and fruits. Kitchari is mostly served for lunch. This process overall, especially the feeding and serving food, is known as Annakshetra, and is done without judgment for background and faith. Many families rely on this in tough times as it is especially serving food to the hungry and the poor.
Meal Drives Outside Hospitals and on Sidewalks
Food is needed the most in hospitals, as relatives of patients often need to travel from rural areas and spend several days there. Homeless and hungry relatives struggle to buy food while spending money on the cost of their relatives’ treatment. There are Food NGOs that provide meal drives outside hospitals, on bus stands, and at locations where the homeless stay. These drives provide food to people in extreme circumstances and allow them some respite.
Dry Ration kits for families
Using Dry ration kits is a good practice for families who just need to have the basics available to them so that they can cook for the month. Dry ration kits help a family have all the necessary items they need in order to cook, such as, all purpose flour, rice, pulses, salt, and oil. These kits become essential during emergencies caused by natural disasters or a sudden loss of livelihood.
Food Support brings stronger Communities
Food support is the first step in addressing the cause and effect of hunger. It helps children concentrate in school, attend it regularly, and brings the family out of poverty and child labour. Without regular food support, children have to leave school to work to feed their families.
It is a win-win for adults too. A laborer, who has had a good meal, has the strength to work, can earn a consistent income and eliminate the risk of getting ill. Healthy and regular meals for the elderly also keep them healthier, and they do not feel as lonely, especially when volunteers sit and talk with them. Throughout all of this, the important thing to note is that the meals are good, but the human contact is what makes these small moments special.
Meal services create harmony. When families are able to see the donors and volunteers as their neighbors because the barriers of society do not exist. A meal service is a great indicator of how the community cares for one another.
Easy Ways to Feed The Hungry
Supporting food programs might seem hard, but it is actually kind of easy. You do not even need to have your own kitchen to do a great deal of good.
Sponsor a Meal for Your Celebrations
Many families sponsor meals for the needy for their celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries, and festivals. Others do it in remembrance of a loved one. For your special moment, one sponsored meal can give a convenience party while providing food to over 100 people.
Donate Grains and Essential Supplies
If you wish to donate in kind, you have the option to donate rice, grain, wheat flour, pulses, or other cooking essential commodities. These are vital to organizations as they enable them to run their kitchens and also assist them to put together family ration kits. Even a small amount of grain as a contribution can have a cascading effect and sustain a family for many days.
Volunteer at Food Drives
Food drives are run entirely by volunteers. You can take part in this initiative by helping in various ways right from cooking to packing ration kits, serving food, or even distributing food; there are options for everyone. The elderly and youngsters can all find ample opportunities to fill their time here. Just a few hours spent at a food drive will bring about a general change in the way you look at your city.
Making Every Meal Count
Hunger is an issue that can be resolved only if the community decides it is the time to act. Every meal served, ration kit packed, and rupee donated, is a step forward to a healthy and dignified life for someone. Although the work is continuous and unending, the intent of each contribution preserves and grows this effort.
For those looking to make meaningful contributions, few options are more direct than supporting food programs. Your aid gets food to someone in need on the very same day. Radha Jan Seva Sansthan is able to provide meals to those in greatest need and rely on the kindness of good donors and volunteers. The proof that the community's food is the community's hope is shown everyday that meals are provided.
