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Delhi NCR FoodBank collects 29,000kg of non-perishable food in 60 days
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
November 25 , 2014
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Delhi NCR FoodBank, in partnership with its founding members, Cargill
India and DLF Foundation, encouraged over 50 corporations, institutions,
resident welfare associations (RWA) and thousands of individuals to
give back to the society by collecting over 29,000kg of non-perishable
food during the Food-a-thon, a 60-day-long campaign organised to mark
World Food Day.
The food collected would be provided by Delhi NCR
FoodBank, a member of India FoodBanking Network, to its eighteen
institutional feeding partners across 32 locations for sustained feeding
of over 10,000 beneficiaries. Food-a-thon is an annual initiative aimed
at combating hunger and malnutrition.
Corporate won awards
recognising their support, which, in turn, would support the meals. The
employees of Cargill India, which has been associated with the India
FoodBanking Network since its inception and provided leadership support
and funding to Delhi NCR FoodBank to the tune of Rs 10 million, gathered
the most food, and bagged the Maximum Impact award. .
“India
FoodBanking Network is a step towards addressing the concerns of hunger
and malnourishment in the country. We are committed to helping serve the
community that we operate in, and to supporting the Central and state
governments’ efforts through initiatives like Food-a-thon to augment
food and nutrition security in the country,” said Siraj Chaudhry,
chairman, Cargill India.
MTS India bagged the Best Communication
Outreach award for its communication model to drive call for action. DLF
Foundation bagged a special award for sustained partnership, and
Kulachi Hansraj Model School (which won the school award for maximum
impact through food donation.)
Other awardees included DPS
Sushant Lok student Arshi Kirti (who bagged an individual award,
Volunteer of the Year 2014), The Weight Monitor’s Dev Khosla (Most
Innovative Initiative), and Fenesta Windows (Best Employee Engagement of
the Year).
Ministry of food processing industries’ (MoFPI)
secretary Siraj Hussain was the chief guest, and felicitated the key
contributors. Talking about the efforts and the initiative, he said, “It
gives me immense pleasure to see different stakeholders coming together
and collaborating to support the eradication of hunger and
malnutrition.”
“A FoodBank in each district, supported by the
community, would go a long way in addressing the hunger and malnutrition
issues faced by our country. I congratulate Cargill India, MTS, IFBN,
Delhi NCR FoodBank and all those involved for participating in this food
drive for supplementing the efforts of the government of India to
address these enormous challenges,” he added.
“I hope this
effort would also create awareness about the need of reducing food
losses at the consumers’ end,” Hussain said. During his inaugural
address, retired Lt Gen Rajender Singh, chief executive officer, DLF
Foundation, said, “DLF Foundation is a founding member of the Food Bank
Initiative.”
“It has created the infrastructure for the Food
Bank located at a prime location of Gurgaon. It is a part of a larger
goal to positively impact the health situation which can’t be achieved
without addressing hunger and malnutrition. As individuals and
corporates, we must contribute to this basic need which is related to
the very existence of human beings,” he added.
“We must
collectively pledge that the country would not let anyone die due to
hunger and malnutrition. The Food-a-thon is a great step in this
direction,” Singh added. Dmitry Shukov, chief executive officer, MTS
India, said, “For the last three years, MTS India has been a
contributing partner to the India Food Banking Network.”
“Our
involvement in the initiative is a part of our overall effort to make a
difference beyond business to the local communities. This year, through
active employee mobilisation, we have contributed over five-and-a-half
tonnes of non-perishable food for Food-a-thon 2014. I am confident that
in 2015, we would be able to better this milestone in association with
Responsenet Development Services,” he added.
Kuldip Nar,
managing director, Responsenet Development Services, said, “This year,
we have seen a manifold increase in individual participation as
volunteers and contributors. It is extremely encouraging to see the
increase in partnerships with companies and schools that help contribute
more food for more people in need.”
“With this growing support
base, we are eager to increase the reach for our mission and service
commitment of one nutritious meal a day, too many more who are in need,”
he added. Trans Innovations has partnered with Delhi NCR FoodBank, and
is helping strengthen the systems and technologies to help the food bank
reach more individuals by creating more tools for the various stages of
the humanitarian supply chain.
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