Do you celebrate Thanksgiving? I don't, but I like to thank God for all the wonderful things that happen with me, around me. But that is what almost everyone of you wants to do in some way or not the other, ain't it?
A couple of months ago, I got my first TAship salary, which was a sizable amount considering we are students with few needs. My dad asked me to do some thing good with the money I receive and buy blankets for the homeless in this brazen winters. I jumped onto the idea and said will do so immediately when I get time. Due to placements and other occupations, it remained on the back-burner. In reality the whole operation of buying cheap blankets and distributing them doesn't take more than 4-5 hours. But our priorities are weird and selfish.
Since 4th of December, I have been pretty much free watching Prison Break at home and it is still not done. My dad admonished me for being careless a week ago and said that I don't really care for them. I defended myself and said that I do, but did I care enough? The answer is clear.
I asked my friend if he knew a place from where I could buy cheap blankets. He didn't, but he offered 1k from his side. Tomorrow I fly out of station for 10 days and today I somehow managed to get 21 blankets at wholesale rates (Rs. 100 per blanket). Tonight with dad, I went towards Lodhi Garden on the road in front of Sai Baba Mandir. No offence to anyone, but the location wasn't decided because it was in front of Sai Baba Mandir, but because we knew that quite a few homeless people sleep on the pavement there. When we reached, sure enough there were people of all age groups (3-70 years) who were wearing very few clothes to protect themselves and no blanket. This was at 11 at night, so it wasn't that they were wearing less to attract people to donate to them, they really didn't have blankets.
When we started giving blankets there, inspite of the low no of people present at that time, there were still so many who rushed towards us. At the same time, and this is the worst part, I had to make a mental note of what the person is wearing, does he already have a blanket, is he coming back a second time. After distributing a few blankets to one group we move forward to another group. Then we run out of blankets and there is still this woman who says, "Is Viklaang ke liye to de dete" for an old man on a hand driven cycle. Damn I felt so sinful telling her that the blankets are over (they were over) and felt wrenched.
Friends, if there is something for which you thank God for, then help the children of God who suffer everyday. Please do something on your part. There is never enough virtuosity, there is never enough good. So don't be satisfied, go out and help now!!
I got the blankets from near Moti Nagar Metro Station. It was for Rs. 110/ blanket, but got 21 in 2k. M/s Om Textiles - 9250184986, 25112232. You can also get it from Sarojini Nagar - 9891169900.
I also came across this. Contribute and spread the word! In case you do make a contribution, enter it here in your comments, it will encourage others too :)
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
11 comments:
Hi Ady
Appreciating you, will be flattering.Anyway, I will share what I felt, I used to think that I will help poors wen I will get money. But I think that was an excuse only to not to help poors at that time. Now I have money but I used to make excuse I don't have direction whom to help. Your blog is like a slap on my hypocrisy that will never end until I seriously start feeling pity.
u always make me proud. you keep outdoing urself!! ur amazing. n i am on it :)
Hi Vikram,
Your honesty is appealing and its the story that everyone shares! There is a certain mental barrier which you need to cross to get to help those whom you can.. You do it once, it is almost addictive. You distribute 10 blankets, after that you will feel like you wanna distribute 20, 30!!
You can help at every stage of life, and I can see you know that already :)
@Arunima - Thanks darling, your words are always so motivating :)
Thinking good is good but putting that into practice is better :)
As it is said,"A better idea is to implement a good idea." That's what u have done.
Great!!!
Hey Pankaj,
I am just so glad that you also participated in the initiative.. Hostel mei auro ko bhi boliyo as soon as you come back on 2nd/3rd..
Cheers!
Hey.
awesome initiative..
i might get some money by end of Jan. I'll ask you to join in then.
Hey Pragun,
Don't wait till the end of Jan. The severe part of the winter will be over by then. Maybe make a small contribution right now, or ask your friends to contribute from your side and then you can pay them back later. But this is the time when your effort will bear the maximum fruits!
Hi Ady,
I was googling out cheap blankets to buy to distribute to the people in need, and I clicked your blog.
As I read, my eyes were filled with tears and I felt proud at the same time. It's really cold in jamshedpur and I have decided to distribute blankets to needy people. Good to see people who could think for others.
Rupesh, I am glad you are also taking this initiative. The fact that you commented, send me a notification and now I will be buying blankets asap for this winter.
Maybe we can coordinate with NSS, IITD with this?
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