More than 25 youngsters from software and textile sectors have started a Facebook page to feed destitutes. The page, 'Food Bank-Coimbatore', which has more than 1,700 members, allows people to post data about surplus food cooked in households. The youths would then visit the homes on motorcycle, collect the food and distribute it to destitutes in Coimbatore city.
The youngsters started the food bank on October 16 last year, to ensure that no one goes hungry. Young women and men from educational, textile and information technology sectors decided to spend their Sundays serving the destitutes. Food bank volunteers themselves cook extra food for at least two people every Sunday.
"When members of our FB page inform us they have excess food, we immediately sent our volunteers to their home to collect the food. At 11am every Sunday, they gather at VOC Park grounds and from there take off to distribute the food in various areas," said Vaishanavee Balaji, a private college professor. Volunteers have also begun distributing food to homeless people every Thursday from 7pm to 9pm. "We see many homeless people at the Coimbatore railway junction, near KG Theatre, Puliyakulam, Town Hall, Gandhipuram, Gandhi Park and Saibaba Colony. A few of them are also mentally ill while others are disabled. Most of them don't even get to eat one meal a day," said Vaishanavee Balaji.
A Maria Alphonse, a software engineer from Saravanampatti, said their aim is to work for a hunger free Coimbatore. "Many people provide biscuits and other food items. As of now we distribute 80 packets of food every Sunday afternoon. We are hoping to get more food from residents so that we could cover larger areas," said Alphonse. C Ragavendran, employed in the textile sector, and his wife also distribute food packets to the needy. "The work we do helps only a small section of homeless in the city. We hope more people would volunteer to make the city hunger-free," said Ragavendran. Kumar from Chennimalai, Erode district, who separated from his family 16 years ago, was a private security guard. However, a few months ago, he met with an accident and lost his job. Subsequently, he became homeless. "I had been roaming the streets for two days looking to get some food. Thanks to the volunteers, I was able to satisfy my hunger," he said.
Residents of Coimbatore can call the following numbers if they wish to donate food : 9944876331, 9943334800, 9976449145, 9790310505.
The youngsters started the food bank on October 16 last year, to ensure that no one goes hungry. Young women and men from educational, textile and information technology sectors decided to spend their Sundays serving the destitutes. Food bank volunteers themselves cook extra food for at least two people every Sunday.
"When members of our FB page inform us they have excess food, we immediately sent our volunteers to their home to collect the food. At 11am every Sunday, they gather at VOC Park grounds and from there take off to distribute the food in various areas," said Vaishanavee Balaji, a private college professor. Volunteers have also begun distributing food to homeless people every Thursday from 7pm to 9pm. "We see many homeless people at the Coimbatore railway junction, near KG Theatre, Puliyakulam, Town Hall, Gandhipuram, Gandhi Park and Saibaba Colony. A few of them are also mentally ill while others are disabled. Most of them don't even get to eat one meal a day," said Vaishanavee Balaji.
A Maria Alphonse, a software engineer from Saravanampatti, said their aim is to work for a hunger free Coimbatore. "Many people provide biscuits and other food items. As of now we distribute 80 packets of food every Sunday afternoon. We are hoping to get more food from residents so that we could cover larger areas," said Alphonse. C Ragavendran, employed in the textile sector, and his wife also distribute food packets to the needy. "The work we do helps only a small section of homeless in the city. We hope more people would volunteer to make the city hunger-free," said Ragavendran. Kumar from Chennimalai, Erode district, who separated from his family 16 years ago, was a private security guard. However, a few months ago, he met with an accident and lost his job. Subsequently, he became homeless. "I had been roaming the streets for two days looking to get some food. Thanks to the volunteers, I was able to satisfy my hunger," he said.
Residents of Coimbatore can call the following numbers if they wish to donate food : 9944876331, 9943334800, 9976449145, 9790310505.