Members of senior citizens’ home given ‘Stars of COVID’ award for feeding migrants
A Chennai-based NGO was recently awarded the ‘Honouring the Honourable – Stars of COVID’ award by the World Humanitarian Drive under the ‘Excellence for Charity – Outstanding Big Hearts’ category, for providing food for migrant workers in the city. There were over 1,600 nominations from 35 countries for the Stars of COVID award.
By : migrator
Update: 2020-07-04 22:36 GMT
Chennai
The NGO, Anandam, a free home for senior citizens, took to preparing food for the needy three times a week after the lockdown began. Donning the right protective gear, the elders prepared around 1,500 chapattis at an in-house kitchen for migrant workers.
“During such a crisis, we all have to support each other in whatever way we can. Many of us have been full-time cooks in our younger days. So we thought why not cook and serve those left homeless due to coronavirus,” said Natarajan, a resident and chef.
Donations from corporates and individuals help fund this endeavour, as well as a separate endeavour where 200 hampers were given to underprivileged families.
“This is not the first time our elders are rising to the occasion,” said Bhageerathy Ramamoorthy, founder and managing trustee, Anandam. “Similar relief work has been undertaken by the elders during the Chennai floods as well. We are very happy that our efforts are being recognised across the world,” she said.
The NGO, started in 2003, has expanded over the years to extending free medical care for low-income communities, educational assistance for first-generation learners and a centre for children with learning disabilities.
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