FEED THE NEED!
India has the highest number of people below poverty line. Millions cannot even afford basic amenities of life. The Art of Living has been working relentlessly towards their betterment via social projects like river rejuvenation, cleanliness drives; individual and collective transformation programs. Yet another innovation is “Feed the Need”, a project under Volunteer for Better India.
And it started
On Guru Purnima day i.e 9th July, “Feed the Need” project was launched in West Bengal by the Art of Living volunteers. Many city dwellers wish to donate their surplus but do not find a channel to connect with the countryside. On the other side, people in remote villages travel hundreds of kilo meters for basic needs. “Feed the Need” was conceptualised to bridge the gap between the two” said Rajesh Somani who initiated and is leading the project.
The design is like any other corporate organization. A team of about 30-35 volunteers working tirelessly and a few paid employees enable work 365 days a year. 20 collection centers across the city allow people to walk in and donate daily living items like food grains, clothes, stationery etc. The collection is sorted into categories at a sorting hub; the items are packed and dispatched to distant villages.
West Bengal Flood Relief work
Few months after the launch, incessant rains affected remote parts of West Bengal. Immediately the project team pressed all its resources into service. From collecting and dispatching relief material to raising funds, the volunteers did everything. Around 450 volunteers supplied relief material to the villages of Malda, Midnapore, Hoogly, Dinajpur and Howrah; organised medical Camps, vaccinations and distributed tirpals. 20,000 liters of water and more than 60 tons of relief material were dispatched in 11 trucks.
Unique way to collect funds
“We are going to launch a massive newspaper collection drive in the city in phases. We will sell old newspapers to meet the shortfall of 6-7 lakhs in the relief material procured for flood victims” said Chandan Mishra, an enthusiastic volunteer.
“When you see your happiness in happiness of others, that is when you will be truly happy” Sri Sri
