Food for charity

Don't just throw away the leftover food from your weekend party. Instead, donate it to the underprivileged and gain satisfaction from your noble gesture feeding a hundred hungry stomachs

Ifu00a0 you are throwing a party and there is a lot of leftover food, don't let it go waste. You could do a more noble deed instead: feed a poor family and give little joys to the underprivileged ones living around the corner.

With the wedding season in full swing, large amounts of food are also wasted at marriages and wedding parties.
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Typically, the expected number of guests don't turn up, resulting in several bagfuls of leftover food. You could either personally go and feed the poor in the slum colonies or call up an orphanage and donate the food there.

You could also call up a couple of NGOs who will come at your doorstep, collect the food and distribute it to the underprivileged.

Though very few NGOs operate in this sector, the ones who do vouch for the joy that comes in feeding the poor.

"On an average, the leftover food at most weddings can feed at least 70-80 mouths," said Ritesh Vaid, founder and trustee of Arham Yuva Group, who offer to feed the poor.

"The joy we get to see on their faces is unmatched and very satisfying," added Vaid. His group, which has about 15 centres across Mumbai, has tied up with caterers who undertake wedding and marriage orders.

Armed with steel containers, the volunteers take the leftover food from marriage halls and parties and distribute it to slum residents, street dwellers and construction workers.

With a team of 60 members, the group has appealed to more youngsters to join hands for the noble cause. "This service requires two things manpower and logistics. Manpower is more difficult to get.
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We appeal to more people to join us in this initiative," said Nimit Sheth, another member of Arham Yuva Group.

Vinay Somani, founder and chief of Karmayog, an NGO, said that there are very few NGOs involved in this sector because it is inappropriate to give the leftover food in hospitals due to the fear of food poisoning.

"In orphanages, if the orphans are given the leftover food, they may wonder that the outside world is so rosy and think that they are the unfortunate ones. It's a very tricky situation," said Somani.

Expert view

Ritesh Vaid, Founder Ashram Yuva Group

I had gone to Germany a few years ago and I saw a group of people collecting the leftover food after a party.

When I enquired, I learnt that they distribute it to the poor. I saw it as a noble gesture and wanted to do the same in Mumbai.

Everyday, truckloads of food is wasted as leftovers and if this food is put to use, it can feed over a hundred mouths.

The joy that we get to see when we distribute the food is very satisfying. We do not take milk or curd items as they are more perishable. We also check the palatability of the food before distributing it to avoid any cases of food poisoning.

Where can you call?

Ritesh Vaid
Founder, Arham Yuva Group
Mobile: 98676 22002u00a0

Shelter Don Bosco
Opp. St. Joseph's High School,
Wadala, Mumbai,
Maharashtra, India - 400031
Telephone : 0091 - 22 - 24150562
Email address : info@shelterdonbosco.org

Nimit Sheth
Volunteer, Arham Yuva Group: 98218 75656
Alternatively, you can call destitute homes in your neighbourhood and contact the officials.