The Chennai Food Bank is one of the prestigious projects of RYA Metro Trust started about 17 years ago with members throughout the city. Since its inception, it has donated more than 1.5-crore meals to the under-privileged. With many subscribers joining, the organisation decided to involve the local community.
“Having reached a landmark figure we wanted to have more rapport with the local people so that we can donate about five-crore meals in the next few years,” says Shanti. P. Chordia, a member of RYA, Metro. “We are sure to achieve success as we already have the donors, collection process and distribution pattern in place,” adds Shanti.
The food bank has about 80 institutions (orphanages, old age homes and education institutions) under its purview. It has divided its recipients into three batches who will collect the grains from the organisation every Friday and Sunday, from their 2,500 sq.ft. collection centre at 12, Saravana Street, T. Nagar.
More than 25 vans in clearly chalked out routes ply across the city collecting grains from flats and residents. These are deposited in the collection centre where they are cleaned and stored hygienically.
The food bank has various schemes. ‘Mutti Bhar Anaj Yojana' – A Fistful of Rice - is a scheme in which one begins the day by depositing a handful of rice in a separate container. Once the container is full it will be collected by the RYA.
People can sponsor a bag of rice for the hungry by joining the ‘Anna Dan Yojana'. One can give a 50 kg bag for Rs. 1,100 or a 75 kg bag for Rs. 2,500 by enrolling in the Bhori Bhar Aanaj scheme. One can donate substantial amount of money for the project and become a Platinum Harvest Fellow, Golden Harvest Fellow or Silver Harvest Fellow.
RYA is now initiating talks with a chain of restaurants to take the hygienically prepared remaining food by the end of the day, deep freeze it and distribute it to the needy the next day.
Another project involves the corporate. According to this, a nominal amount will be auto debited from the employee's credit card to the Food Bank.
RYA appeals to all Chenniites to join hands with the trust. All one has to do is to lend a helping hand. Anybody can volunteer to be part of this project.
