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| Edited By: Brinda Majithia |Source: DNA |Updated: Nov 19, 2013, 11:17 PM IST
It’s a common saying that sometimes people are so busy that they have no idea who is staying next door and who their neighbours are. Well, same was the case with this society in Kandivili. There was hardly any interaction between the residents of this particular Abhinav Apartment in Kandivili (West). But when calamity strikes there is this uncanny human tendency to help anyone in distress.
July 26, 2005 is a date that will go down in history for the residents of this society. “I personally did not even know the names of those staying in the building until the tragedy,” says Jasmina Shah. Many houses were submerged and like many others, they too were caught unaware. In such circumstances they got together and managed to help each other out.
From then onward a few couples came together and made it a point to meet every weekend over a cup of tea and coffee. They bonded almost like a family. Jasmina continues, “We thought we were all lucky to escape the tragedy that struck Mumbai. There was a desire to do some good for the betterment of the underprivileged. Food is the basic necessity that not many are fortunate enough to get.”
Every weekend they would visit areas where they would find the elderly and young poor kids longing to have a morsel of food. Parul Suchak, one of the volunteers says, “Every Sunday we make some delicacies in our house. We thought even those who are deprived should get to eat all this. So we take samosas, gulab jamun, cutlets and other snacks for them.”
There are at least 10 couples who are a part of this activity. They meet every weekend feed and share food with those who can’t afford fresh good food. “We now call this larger family as the ‘Water Unity Group’, we meet every weekend, share personal matters, treat the whole group, celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and regularly go for picnics. Recently, we have started contributing a monthly nominal sum towards charitable purposes. We provide clothes and medicines to those who cant afford and are on the streets,” says Sanjay Suchak.
Just a month back, Jasmina along with a few others also visited Prem Sadan, an orphanage at Malad (West). They plan to get in to more such activities and take it to a larger scale.
Rekha Mehta, one of the volunteers says, “We just spend a small amount of Rs100 every week, but get immense happiness at the end after feeding the needy.”
