September is Hunger Action Month. Communities, NGOs and other organizations call upon for support to provide food relief to people belonging to challenging economic backgrounds.
690 million people worldwide are affected by hunger
with
381 million undernourished people living in Asia
With the present COVID-19 situation, it is estimated that 130 million more people will slip into the chronic hunger bracket by 2020. Given the pandemic, we need to take tangible steps to fight hunger; hence, the Need to Feed is NOW!
To tackle this situation, various NGOs including The Akshaya Patra Foundation have come together to provide food to the people in need. Akshaya Patra is an Indian NGO that works in tandem with the Government of India and various State Governments to implement the Mid-Day Meal Programme. Along with its core cause, this NGO steps in to provide food relief during crisis situations such as flood, cyclone, earthquake, and is currently serving the needy amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Akshaya Patra’s COVID-19 Food Relief Service
Akshaya Patra and its Associate Foundations started the COVID-19 Food Relief Service on 25th March 2020 and have served a cumulative of 7.8-Crore meals. The NGO has served 4,57,17,685 cooked meals and distributed 7,87,570 grocery kits across 19 states of India – Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tripura, West Bengal, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
Akshaya Patra’s Happiness Bags Programme
Out of the 690 million hungry people, 14 million children under the age of five worldwide suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
and
COVID-19 has kept 90% of all students out of school, which in turn reversed the years of progression on education.
Reason being this, apart from feeding migrants and daily-wage workers, Akshaya Patra initiated the Happiness Bags Programme for its mid-day meal beneficiaries.
Each Happiness Bag is packed with contents that support health and immunity, hygiene and education of children. Every bag provides:
• Immunity and nutrient-rich food items – glucose biscuit packs, peanuts, jaggery, double fortified salt, ragi flour, turmeric powder, and sambar powder.
• Hygiene kit with tooth brush, tooth paste and soap for all beneficiaries and a pack of sanitary napkin for girl beneficiaries.
• Study materials – an activity book, crayon set or colour pencils, Classmate notebook and pens or pencils.
Your contribution towards Akshaya Patra ensures no one goes hungry amid the prevailing pandemic. Your support provides nutritious meals to the needy thereby directly addressing acute, chronic, and hidden hunger.
This Hunger Action Month, go the extra mile to defeat hunger! Donate Now!
