In the crisis caused by the COVID disaster, the virus seems to have brought forth the goodness in every human being. Many individuals have come forward to do their bit to help people who are affected during the crisis. All across the nation, you can see people providing meals to the lower-income sections from their residences, donating money towards distributing relief kits for the affected people, helping the front-line workers with PPE kits, etc.

Apart from individuals coming forward to help the marginalised sections, many NGO’s in India have extended their services to provide them with relief during the COVID-19 crisis. The Akshaya Patra Foundation began its COVID-19 Relief Services from 25th March 2020. The Foundation has served a cumulative of over 6-crore meals to people belonging to backward sections of the society. It has consistently worked towards serving cooked meals & distributing grocery kits for the last 80 days and will continue to do so throughout the lockdown period.

Many eminent personalities have taken to social media for appreciating Akshaya Patra’s COVID-19 Relief efforts. Here is what each one has to say.

Other celebrities who have supported Akshaya Patra in their relief efforts

Actress Raveena Tandon created a campaign to support #KnowHungerNoHunger on World Hunger Day

The Department of South-western Railways, Karnataka, appreciated Akshaya Patra’s efforts to feed Shramik passengers during the COVID-19 crisis

Australian pacer, Brett Lee appreciates Akshaya Patra’s COVID-19 relief services

Bollywood actress, Vidya Balan raised funds with Akshaya Patra during the COVID-19 crisis

Indian singer, Sona Mohapatra supported Akshaya Patra by creating a fundraising campaign

With support from these prominent personalities who are appreciating the Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Services, there is hope for feeding million more people with meals and essential kits.

To support the feeding of migrants and labourers, click here

An act of giving brings unmatchable happiness in our lives. The Akshaya Patra Foundation feeds more than a million children on a daily basis; the smile on these children’s faces say a million words that spell THANK YOU. Uphold dreams of children who are willing to dream big and small. With your donation, you ensure that a child’s year is filled with healthy school meals.

The art of shaping one’s future lies in one’s own hands. But what if they are children who are depending on elders to support them in achieving their dreams? There are many organisations that provide support to children. One such NGO in India is The Akshaya Patra Foundation. Here is a story of one dream that is being nurtured.

Afroz is a student of class 7 studying in Ballari, Karnataka. He inherits his father’s genes to love nature. His father taught him to stay centred, have patience, and create balance. From then, he decided to be a successful businessman so that he can earn lots of money and take up his father’s pottery business on an even greater scale.

Regular school meals provided by Akshaya Patra has helped Afroz in concentrating better in class. Mid-day meals help him stay healthy to focus on achieving his dreams of becoming a businessman.

India runs the largest Mid-Day Meal Programme and The Akshaya Patra Foundation is recognised as the world’s largest NGO-run school meal programme. By implementing the Mid-Day Meals Scheme, it started off by feeding 1,500 children in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Today it feeds a total of 18,00,907 children studying in 19,039 Government schools and Government-aided schools. Akshaya Patra is spread over 52 locations in 12 States and 2 Union Territories in India.

How is Akshaya Patra different from other mid-day meal NGOs?
The Akshaya Patra Foundation prepares and serves school meals from centralised kitchens situated in 50 locations and decentralised kitchens situated in two locations by giving foremost priority to hygiene and cleanliness.

You can get a list of kitchens serving mid-day meals in each State, here.

Both the type of kitchens adhere to Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS guidelines) that include:
• Selection process for raw material supplier
• Standard storage and allotment system
• Steam sterilisation of cooking equipment and utensils
• Usage of 304 grade stainless steel vessels and utensils
• Training of cooks and supervisors to ensure food safety and undertaking pest control measures
• Checking critical points like cooking temperature, temperature while packing meals, etc.

By showing your support to implement the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in many other schools with Akshaya Patra, you give hope to children’s dreams.

Wondering how?
With every donation, you feed children with a year full of healthy and wholesome meals. By doing so, you take care of their overall development – both physical and cognitive. With a donation of ₹3300, you ensure that three children get daily school lunch for one academic year. If these children do not have to think of where their next meal will come from, they will be able to focus better in class and score higher in their academics.

The thought of having changed lives in some way or the other, brings immense joy and satisfaction. The happiness on seeing children’s smiling faces supersedes any other emotion.

You do not have to wait for the right time to make your donation. All you have to do is donate towards Akshaya Patra to provide unlimited food for education to young children.
This will enable millions of children progress towards their dreams.

Children are small, but not their aspirations.
Dreams bring smiles.
How many smiles would you like to support today?