The word father can have different ways of being addressed, Appa, Papa, Acchan, Papaji, Abba, Baba or call him anything else, he is always more than an epitome of strength, confidence, care and will to provide. Even without having asked what we want, we would have it with us and we knew this was our father’s way of expressing his love.

Is there a special day dedicated to all fathers? Yes, there is. Every third Sunday of June is celebrated as Father’s day in most countries around the world. However, in Europe and Latin America, fathers are honoured on 19 March, which is a traditional Catholic holiday.

What’s the history behind Father’s Day?
There are different stories revolving around the birth of Father’s day. Two popular ones are widespread.

Sonora Dodd and her five siblings were raised by a single parent – her father, in Washington’s Spokane. In 1910, on knowing that mother’s day will be celebrated, she felt that fathers need to be honoured too. With this thought in mind, she started a campaign for a day, dedicated to all fathers. In 1920, Spokane celebrated the first Father’s Day.

There is another story about Grace Golden Clayton from Fairmont, West Virginia. In 1907, a coal mining disaster occurred that killed 361 men. Out of the 361, 250 of them were fathers. Clayton suggested that a commemoration service should be held. She argued that children, mothers and wives of these men needed a day to remember and pay a tribute to them.

Whatever the reason was for the celebration of Father’s Day, it was a historical day that united all fathers. Many NGOs work and celebrate this special day to honour fathers across the world. One such organisation is The Akshaya Patra Foundation. In this hour of trying to get back to a normal stage of living, it helps fathers of India feed their children and families.

Here are few stories of fathers who have received Akshaya Patra’s food relief service during this pandemic.

Mohan Jadhav, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

He was handed over 2months’ salary before the lockdown as the factory he was working in, was getting shut. Since, the beginning of lockdown, the price of commodities shot up and this money was exhausted within days. His worry was, how will he go back home to his parents? His children would not be able to travel 300 km on an empty stomach. Akshaya Patra’s meals came to rescue him and his family out of this situation.

Ramprakash, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

He is a tailor who stitches garments of deities like Lord Krishna and Radha for a temple. The pandemic brought with it, the closure of temples which left people like him with no money to buy food or stock up ration for the future. With no source of income, he and his wife had started thinking twice before spending a single rupee. He was worried he would have to put his four children to sleep on an empty stomach. But, Akshaya Patra came to rescue their hunger at the right time.

Chandan Bahera, Silvassa, Dadra & Nagar Haveli

Chandan had left his parents in Odisha to come and work in Silvassa. The pandemic jeopardized the security that his daily-wage job would give him. With limited resources, he had to take care of his wife, two children and his parents. He was worried that he will not be able to see his parents ever again. But thanks to Akshaya Patra’s food relief service, he and his family started getting freshly cooked meals. This helped to avoid his food expenses and helped him save enough to meet his parents.

Shyam Kushwah, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

Shyam is a single parent from Vrindavan who worked as a labourer in a pipe manufacturing company. His two boys were always left at home while he would go to work. The guilt of not earning enough for the safety of his children had started to consume him. He had started getting disappointed in himself for letting his children sleep on an empty stomach almost every day. Relief set in when he heard that an NGO was providing free meals to people like him. Now he can save for a future emergency.

Many more fathers suffer from the guilt of not being able to provide enough for their families during this pandemic. Feed the needy people by supporting Akshaya Patra’s COVID Relief Service. Donate online to the organisation to provide cooked meals with ₹30 and Family Happiness Kits with ₹1200.

This father’s day, support fathers across India to secure the future of their family.

With mothers around us, every day is a gift. We have everything at our service, be it food, coffee, snacks, clean room, organised cupboards or anything under the sun; all thanks to our mother figure. When we don’t find something, the first thing that comes to our head is “Mom! Where is my…….?” and for all you know, she will be standing with it in her hand.

A mother is a replica of sacrifice and selflessness. A day dedicated to all the mothers, motherhood and maternal influences, was needed. In 1914, the second Sunday of May was dedicated to celebrating Mother’s Day.

How can you celebrate Mother’s Day in the pandemic?
This year, Mother’s Day celebrations are going to be a tad bit different just like the last year. We all have to sit in the safe zone of our houses and yet make this day special for the beautiful woman, we call ‘Mother’.

• Give her flowers
Flowers are one of the best creations of nature that can bring a smile to everyone’s face. A bouquet or a single flower can brighten up the day of your mother or your wife or any other person who plays the role of a mother in life.

• Give her a day off from the kitchen
Having a mother by your side is a feel-good factor in itself. She silently works hard in the kitchen just to ensure that you eat healthy and yummy food. On this 9th May 2021, give your mother a day off from the monotonous routine of cooking. Take care of the kitchen chores by beginning with breakfast, lunch, tea, snacks and dinner, for just one day and you will want to help her more every other day.

• Give her a special gift by practicing her values
A mother is Pandora’s box of values and virtues. It is time you show her that you have learnt all her teachings well. Donate in her honour on this special day with Akshaya Patra. Show her that you care for your fellow beings who are in need in this tough time of the pandemic.

Akshaya Patra’s COVID-19 Relief Service
Akshaya Patra is currently providing freshly cooked meals to needy people and grocery kits to support the survival of marginalised families. Apart from this, the Foundation also supports the food and education of its mid-day meal beneficiaries by distributing happiness kits. As of 30th April 2020, the NGO has served a cumulative of 12.40-crores and will continue its feeding service as long as people require it.

Make Akshaya Patra a part of your Mother’s Day celebrations by making online donations from the safety of your homes so that nobody has to suffer from a hunger crisis. Show her that you have learnt well from her by donating in your mother’s name.