MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Everybody wants to make a difference, and I mean everybody. The most common query is HOW? If this sounds like you, here’s your chance.

November 8 is when a bunch of guys leave for Kodaikanal where they will volunteer briefly at my friend Zainab Ghadiyali's project – the Indian chapter of the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC). Zainab is the Field Operations Manager for Project Kodaikanal and is responsible for managing the logistics of FIMRC’s work in India.

An email was sent out urging everyone to do their bit and donate medicines, clothes, blankets, shoes and stationary for the kids and their families. And the response has been overwhelming.

Stuff that we have received (or been promised) so far:
* 10000 multivitamin tablets and 10000 calcium tablet for 210 kids at the FIMRC crèche. This would suffice a one-year supplement requirement.
* Shoes (20 pairs) and clothes (50 pairs).
* Two others have volunteered to donate their old clothes (say 20 in total)
* 172 kiddie toothbrushes.
* 40 sharpeners, 100 pencils, 200 erasers.
* Five kg Fevicol, 500 ml white fabric paint, 4 100ml paints of different colours.
The stuff collected will be given to the FIMRC (http://fimrc.org/projects/project-kodaikanal-india) and CSI Polio Center (http://csirehab.org/service.htm)

Many others have promised blankets, clothes and stationary. The quantity of the same is something we aren’t sure of at the moment.

However, there’s a lot more that’s still required and YOU can help bridge that gap.

Stuff that’s needed:
* Toothbrushes for kids - 38
* Blankets

* Toys
* Warm clothes are always needed. Lack of warm clothes is the major reason why kids are perpetually dealing with cold and fever. Size is not an issue because if the clothes don’t fit them, they can always fit someone in their family.


Apart from that, in the same area, there’s a free clinic run by Dr Mascarana. He was born and brought up in Kodai, and went to study medicine in Germany. He came back to set up this clinic, and of course, medicines are the most needed.

He needs:

Medicine No.
Amoxicillin (it’s an antibiotic) 20000

Vitamin B compound 50000

Calcium tablets (kids &adults) 50000

So if you are looking to donate medicines, please go for it.


How to donate?
Once you have figured what you want to donate, take that phone, and call me at 98200 70340. You may also email me at vikas.hotwani@gmail.com

There are various places where you may drop off your donation, namely Borivali, Goregoan, Khar, Dadar, Lower Parel, VT, and Thane. Call me, I will give you the address and as per convenience, you may drop it at the closest venue.

However, that’s not it. As the initiative gets bigger, we can always do with more hands. There’s a listing put up in DNA’s YA! Supplement (that will be out this Sunday) regarding the same cause and we are expecting a decent, if not overwhelming response. Next week might be hectic, because we may need to go around the city collecting stuff from people who can’t drop off their donations at any of our centers.

Here’s where you can step in
Let us know that you want to help. Depending on how you travel every day, it’s possible that you can collect donations from someone and drop it at any of our centers. For example, say you travel every day from Andheri to VT and there’s someone at Andheri who wants to donate, but can’t go that extra mile. All you would need to do is leave your home 15 minutes early, collect, and someone will be there at VT to take it from you.

Then of course, on the last day (Nov 8, Sunday), you can drop by to help board all the stuff in the train.

SMALL initiatives, but trust me, they will make ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

Let us know that you want to help, and we will keep you in loop.

Thanks

Hotwani