Bridging the food gap
With the installation of community refrigerators all over Mumbai and active support from residents, the needy finally have access to decent meals in the city.
The Vateshwar Temple is one of those few places in Mumbai where the biggest prayer is fulfilled without a price, the prayer of a full stomach. Food scarcity is a huge problem around the world, food wastage even bigger, and in the urge to do their bit, the Versova Welfare Association (VWA) installed a community refrigerator at the temple in January this year. Food began filling up the refrigerator soon after it was installed, thanks to the various restaurants in the vicinity. "Our main aim is to provide the needy and hungry three to four meals a day," says Shyam Kalwani, a member of the association and a resident of Versova. The refrigerator caters to around 200 people every day. Prassana Nambiar, a fellow member feels that people usually throw leftover food at the underprivileged which make them feel like they are begging. "Here all they need to do is come here and take food from the refrigerator," he adds.
VWA president Gopal Hegde, inspired by a similar concept in Kerala, decided to install the refrigerator in Mumbai in memory of his parents. "We modified an industrial fridge, chose the temple for its accessibility and got CCTV cameras installed for safety," says Kshitij Mehta, secretary, VWA. Initially the members and their friends used to make arrangements to stock the fridge. The association spread the word through messages on WhatsApp groups, newspaper articles and fliers around the locality. Gongurra, a restaurant serving authentic Andhra food, was the first to contribute. "As we only serve fresh food every day, the remaining food is sent to the refrigerator the next morning so that it can reach the needy," says Chetan Kumbhat, partner at the eatery. The support has been fantastic, says Kalwani.
Restaurants and residents have been diligent about lending a helping hand. "Donors even mark the date on which the food was prepared so that it is put up before going stale," states Nambiar. Thrilled by the response, the organisation installed a second fridge in Oshiwara, opposite Infinity Mall on May 18. "A lot of people have approached us from across the city and if all goes well, we will install more refrigerators," assures Mehta. The tie-up with Grab, the delivery partner which will pick up the food from the location and deliver it to the refrigerator, will make the process more convenient. At Vateshwar, the refrigerator that runs from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. is accessed mainly by beggars and daily wage labourers. "Often it takes just 30 minutes for the food to get over," says Varsha Bhagchandani, caterer and a member of the association.
Thought counts
The motto of this initiative is Dignified Living. "Work is work but this is social service. If someone in need gets food, the heart feels at peace," says Bhagchandani. Taking inspiration from them, another organisation has recently installed a community refrigerator in Jogeshwari East where along with food, old clothes, toys and books can also be donated.