In emergencies that loomed our country, a pandemic of such a large scale had called upon emergency lockdowns, not once or twice, but many times with the hope that the number of active cases will decrease. The most celebrated and occasion that was looked forward to in 2020 was Independence Day. This day also saw a few limitations on the celebration front. Guidelines were given out to follow preventive measures while organising various programmes for this day. For the first time, military bands from the Indian tri-services performed to thank the COVID-19 frontline workers as a gesture of appreciation and gratitude.

This year we will be celebrating the 75th year of Indian Independence Day. And this time too we will be restricted with our celebrations though the vaccines have been rolled out. Though the virus hasn’t dampened our spirit of festivity, we have accepted the new norms to celebrate the patriotism in us. Giving or helping people in need, has become a part of our lives. We are helping each other in ways that we wouldn’t even have thought of. Akshaya Patra has gone beyond its normal routine of feeding children from challenging socio-economic backgrounds who study in Government and Government-aided schools.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Akshaya Patra Foundation has moved beyond serving mid-day meal beneficiaries; it started the COVID-19 relief feeding service to feed the needy populations of India. As a part of this programme, cooked meals and grocery kits were distributed to marginalised communities of India.

As children were kept out of school and they did not have access to their daily source of nutritious meals – mid-day meals, they had started becoming visibly weaker. To continue serving these school children, this Indian NGO started the Happiness Kits Programme. With this initiative, the health, immunity, hygiene and education of children would be supported.

As the second wave of the pandemic hit the nation with full force, the hunger crisis also worsened. Akshaya Patra also decided to fight back hunger for the sake of people’s survival. It started distributing Family Happiness Kits to vulnerable families of four, to help them survive with healthy food for 15 days.

What’s inside the Family Happiness Kit?

Several people from different sections of society had started facing food shortages. Akshaya Patra decided to lend them a helping hand. Thus, it provided food assistance to Homeless mothers who were living without their husbands and artisan communities who had taken a bad hit in this testing time.

This Independence Day is not very different from what it was last year. The only difference maybe is that last year it was the pandemic that devastated the lives of the needy and this year it is a year of survival with the second wave.
Make this Independence Day, a special one in your life. 75 years ago, it was a struggle for freedom while today is a struggle for life. Donate online to Akshaya Patra to relieve the marginalised and vulnerable populations from this struggle for food.

Celebrate humanity, celebrate togetherness

It is for the second time in a row that World Hunger Day is not an ordinary day. There is much more we need to do as citizens of a country this year. After the COVID-19 pandemic threatened every section of the society, it also exposed the fragility of the agricultural sector that pushed millions of people to the brink of starvation. Food insecurity impacted many people as a result of the loss of jobs and forced them to go to bed hungry.

28th May is celebrated as World Food Day and was started by The Hunger Project in 2011. Now, there is more need to invest in the sustainable end of hunger than ever. Many NGOs work to improve food security, food waste, hunger and malnutrition as a part of their COVID relief service. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a charity in India that is currently serving meals to the needy people of India. With great support from the Central Government, State Government and District authorities coupled with generous donations from various individuals and corporate donors, it began its COVID Relief Service on 25th March 2020 during the first lockdown and has never stopped its feeding service till date. To address immediate hunger in migrants, daily wagers, labourers and needy people of India, the Foundation served freshly cooked meals and distributed grocery kits that could equip a family with ration for almost a month.

How can you provide help during this COVID crisis?
Support Akshaya Patra in its feeding initiatives to help the needy people with the much-required meals during this pandemic.

• Donate online
Provide food assistance to marginalised sections of the society that is deeply affected by the pandemic. They may not fear the virus as much as they fear dying from hunger in this tough time. Feed meals to the needy people of India with Akshaya Patra. The NGO is currently serving rice, dal, khichdi/roti and subzi in 28 locations of India.
Apart from serving cooked meals, Akshaya Patra also provides grocery kits to needy families. Every grocery kit contains ration and vegetables that can help in the preparation of 42/28 meals depending on the location served. Ingredients in the grocery kits will vary in every state to cater to the local taste. Currently, Akshaya Patra distributes grocery kits in 32 locations of India.

• Fundraising campaign to feed the needy people
Be a part of Akshaya Patra’s fundraising campaign to support its feeding initiatives. You can also start a fundraising campaign to show your support towards providing food in this crisis. All you have to do is:

Start a Campaign: Sign in or register and create an online fundraising campaign by filling in the required details.
Create Awareness: Once the campaign has been created, share the link on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels and let your friends know.
Raise Funds: Tell your friends and family that they can support Akshaya Patra by contributing to your purposeful campaign.
Make an Impact: Know that all the funds raised through your campaign will be utilised to provide nutritious meals every day!

• Create awareness on Social Media
Be a social media supporter of Akshaya Patra. Follow and like the NGO on various social media platforms and comment or share on the updates of the organisation. Be aware of what is happening in the charity and what are its new initiatives.

This World Hunger Day, make your presence felt, support Akshaya Patra to eliminate hunger in the lower strata of the society. Use your generosity to bring about a positive change in the lives of needy people by supporting the COVID-19 Relief Service.