In July 2016, a group of like-minded volunteers decided to prepare a delicious meal for underprivileged and feed them with love with help from Tharanath, the founder of Seva Café of Bengaluru. The tremendous success and the overwhelming response they received from beneficiaries as well as sponsors encouraged them to have more events for underprivileged. This led to the formation of Café With Care. Not exactly a café, it is a group of volunteers who try to select most deprived home/community/centre/village in and around Chennai, take their own groceries to cook for them at their place as per their wish and serve it in ecologically sensitive manner.
The volunteer base keeps increasing after every successful event. However, every event demands 20 to 30 ground volunteers to cook and serve. The volunteers prefer to mix their magic recipe of care, love and don’t deploy cooks for the same reason. Team members actively participate in cutting vegetables, cooking, cleaning, serving and waste management.
“We provide food for soul and not just for stomach. An elderly person from the old age home, Vishranthi blessed us saying their son/daughter, who left them at old age home only pay for their food and never spend time with them. He was so happy that we had spent a whole day with him and other residents of the old age home talking to them, entertaining them and cooking food of their choice. It is one of the many memories that we cherish,”says one of the volunteers of Café With Care. Till date they have already worked with Arunodhayam, Poonamalle school for visually challenged kids,Vishranthi, St.Louis Deaf and Dumb school and farmers from Pandeeswaram village.
“We realise that expensive gifts or materialistic pleasure doesn’t give one ultimate happiness. But a hug and smile from our guests showcasing their love mean the world to us. The joy of giving food and spending time with people, who are in need gives happiness to both the giver and the receiver. This has been our biggest takeaway from such event,”adds another volunteer.
Just prior to any event they organise, they open registrations for volunteers and sponsors through social media. Anyone who is interested can register and join them in cooking and sharing!
To find out more about this socially-sensitive venture, just check out their Facebook page or write to <
