Sodexo - Stop Hunger offers emergency aid in COVID-affected communities
Mumbai/India, September 7, 2020
- Partners India Food Banking Network and Zomato Feeding India for community outreach
- Distribution of dry ration items and ready-to-eat packets among the daily wage earners and low-income families
- Initiative to cover 85,000 beneficiaries through the provision of more than 9,00,000 meals
The challenges currently being experienced as a result of Coronavirus (Covid-19) are unprecedented and sadly impacting many vulnerable people in our communities. Offering relief, Sodexo - Stop Hunger has joined hands with leading public service organizations – India Food Banking Network and Zomato Feeding India to offer aid to the daily wage-earners and low-income families in the local communities.
Under the initiative, Sodexo - Stop Hunger will supply dry ration kits and ready-to-eat packets to the partner organizations, who in turn will work with their NGO partners and local volunteers to make aid available to families which are impacted by COVID and lost livelihoods in Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Patna and Varanasi.
“Sodexo - Stop Hunger works with charities to donate time, skills and money to tackle hunger, support good nutrition and promote life skills in local communities. In the current difficult times, mobilizing food within the impacted communities has been an area of concern. By collaborating with major non-profit organizations - India Food Banking Network and Zomato Feeding India, Sodexo - Stop Hunger is helping to coordinate resources within communities to ensure people have access to essential food. We care about our stakeholders, and as a team, we work every day to make a difference. This is our way of playing the part and giving back to the society in a meaningful way”, says Rohit Bahety, Country President – Sodexo India.
The association with India Food Banking Network involves distribution of a 15-kg dry ration kit including cooking essentials like rice, wheat flour, pulses, oil and spices to 26,625 beneficiaries, while Zomato Feeding India is focusing on distribution of 60,000+ meal packets to migrant labourers, daily wage earners and stranded people at in-transit points in Delhi and Mumbai. Each meal kit contains water bottle, glucose biscuits, sattu (roasted gram or chana powder), chips, namkeen, roasted chana, soap strips and a face mask.
“We, at India Food Banking Network, are excited to double the quantum of our food assistance to families in need for greater impact during the National Nutrition Week. Thank you Sodexo - Stop Hunger for your generous support. With your help we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of 5325 vulnerable families by providing them with 80000 kgs of non-perishable staples. Together we are ensuring that they have enough food to eat, remain healthy and can dedicate themselves to rebuilding their lives,” says Vandana Singh, CEO - India Food Banking Network.
“Meal for Migrants has been designed to provide relief to migrant workers who have been on their journey home with no food or even means to it. We are happy to have joined hands with Sodexo which has a similar mission. Their contribution has been significant in ensuring that more people reach their destination safely and in good health, added Chaitanya Mathur, Head - Zomato Feeding India.
Sodexo - Stop Hunger along with partner organizations targets completion of this community service activity by mid-September 2020, in line with the National Nutrition Week campaign in the target cities, touching the lives of over 85,000+ beneficiaries with more than 9,00,000 meals.
For more details, read the full version here.