Smile Foundation Serves More Than 27 Million Meals during the Pandemic
Smile Foundation’s campaign #IndiaShares has crossed serving 27 Million Meals providing nutrition support for the families affected by COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions
New Delhi: Smile Foundation through its #IndiaShares campaign which started on 6th April 2020 as an answer to fight against the pandemic of COVID-19 in the form of a food distribution program has achieved the milestone of distributing more than 27 million meals today. Marking the one year of the Janta curfew, Smile so far has served 27.34 million meals.
The program ensured that three nutrition meals reach more than 3.03 Lac children and families, comprising of 5 members each, for a month. The program spread across 23 states of the country so far is now targeting to reach a distribution of over 30 million meals.
“The onset of COVID-19 changed the economic and industry outlook in a very short period. As an organization working towards social causes we understood the challenge and mobilized resources towards the most urgent need i.e. food. Providing nutritional food became our topmost priority, and we started to reach out to the most underserved areas of the nation to ensure that no one sleeps on an empty stomach. With restrictions being eased, we hope to continue to work towards providing and supporting basic amenities, while aiding our partners in their social mission.” said Mr. Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder, and Executive Trustee, Smile Foundation.
A recent survey by Smile, across 19 states revealed that more than 50% of households still do not have access to proper nutritious food and up to 77% of the respondents felt that their children’s lifestyle had changed either completely or partially, in terms of eating, sleeping, and other regular routines.
Smile Foundation has developed a multi-pronged strategy to mitigate this crisis and aims to reach the milestone of 30 million meals to families in phases by providing dry ration thus, securing them against goods scarcity in the wake of a possible virus outbreak and basic necessity kit as part of immediate relief for a month in the current times arising out of COVID-19. The kits include rice, dal, salt, oil, sugar, masks, sanitary pads, soap to name a few, and other essentials.
Smile Foundation is also working on a telephonic and digital health awareness initiative providing counseling on physical as well as mental wellbeing to the most vulnerable during COVID-19 and taking primary healthcare to the doorsteps of the less privileged children and families and promote a health-seeking behavior among them.