“आओ सबको राहत बाटें ,
इन सर्दिया गरमाहट बाटें|”
(Come, let’s spread comfort,
This winter, let’s spread the warmth)
We all know how freezing it is outside during winter, and, to save ourselves from the cold, we all get bundled up in nice, warm woollen clothes, and get under layers of blankets in our homes. Yes! We are blessed with access to these and more amenities to get away from the ill effects of this extreme weather.
But! There are hundreds and thousands of people constituting a population which is homeless, living on streets or under sheds and tents, without any basic amenities to cover themselves up and stay safe and healthy through this really cold weather. In fact, a number of deaths of homeless people are reported every year due to a lack of these basic amenities to protect themselves. Further, infants and the elderly are more prone to suffering in this weather due to their comparatively weaker and more sensitive immune systems.
As fellow beings, it’s our duty and responsibility to lend a helping hand to populations lacking the proper resources to survive winter. Also, there is a related and common scenario we have observed. At times many clothes, which have been kept in our cupboards at home, and hardly worn by us (sometimes even unused) can be shared with the needy. A gift in its truest sense.
So, this Christmas, Mr. Gaurav, along with Aashutosh, Sachit, Karishma, Aashi, Swati, Shubham, Pushkar and other volunteers of ‘Being Social – Ek nayi shuruat’, became Santa Clauses for people in Patna.
The team organised a cloth donation campaign in association with Food Junction, Gola Road, to provide yet another opportunity to spread smiles.
A large number of clothes were donated by people in and around Patna which were then collected and segregated according to their types and sizes. On December 23, the team ‘jingled all the way’ and reached an area close to Bata Factory, Digha, where the clothes were then distributed among around 300 people, including infants the elderly.
The event went successfully due to the dedication of our members. As it’s been said, joy multiplies when divided, and we truly feel more warm and more joyous this festive season after sharing it with others.
Kudos to all our volunteers!
