I had the privilege of meeting up with the passionate founding team of the Delhi food banking network as a BL champion last month. This NGO feeds freshly cooked meals to more than 17000 underprivileged children every day, in shelters across the country to keep them in school and out of trouble.
I felt a deep longing stir inside me to do my bit for the cause. I put up a week-long mini drive within my apartment complex to collect food like rice, pulses, and oil. It was festive time and I was forewarned by close ones, that it would most likely end up being a lost effort and that people wouldn’t want to spend money. I understood that, but a voice inside my heart gave me no choice. The thought of beautiful, talented children, starving every day and not having enough to get by, tormented me uncomfortably that day. Something had cracked inside me.
Much to my joy, people I knew contributed food or money and I bought on their behalf, filling my house like a warehouse. It was a roller-coaster ride full of challenging, fun, ecstatic moments. Each packet of food made me realise the value of money, food and much more. No longer do I take things for granted the way I did.
My target was to collect 150 kilos of food at least. I was getting there when a sweet neighbour showed up with a generous 100-kilo donation. At the end of the week, It added up to more than 400 kilos. I was emotional at how the divine had responded to my simple heartfelt wish.
It is just a drop in the ocean but many children will be fed wholesome meals because of the simple effort and generous contribution of a handful of people.
Takeaway
We can create magic together with small actions geared towards change with patience & persistence.