Hyderabad: Serving people for free, one hot meal at a time

HYDERABAD: As infections soar, volunteers and NGOs who were active during the second wave are back in action again. Among the help most need in isolation is food, and some in city have been providing that at people’s doorstep for free.
Helping Spot Organisation, an initiative launched by a couple from Miyapur, has won hearts of many people as they feed the needy amid trying times.Launched in April last year as the second wave raged, the group had served free food to hundreds of people caught at home with neither health nor resources to cook. Now, with the city facing the third wave, the couple is back serving people free food.
“We are serving almost 150 families lunch and dinner on a daily basis for the last two weeks. We serve rice, two curries, lentils and curd as part of the meal. I spend Rs 15,000 from my own pocket per day. Majority of them are either senior citizens or students who are in isolation and can’t cook for themselves,” said Bhargav Ventrapragada, founder of organisation.
The operation is managed by Bhargav, who works in a corporate event management company, and his wife Uma Maheshwari. The food is delivered with the help of friends. Currently, the group provides food in Miyapur, Ameenpur and Bachupally. “When I was infected, I sought their services for almost 10 days. I had no energy to fend for myself. The food was nutritious,” said Anil Naidu, a techie.
A similar initiative by another couple serves free food in Miyapur. NGO Aashri Society is run by Ram Kishore Reddy and his wife Prapurna Reddy. “In last few weeks, we started getting calls again. In one week, we have distributed 40 meals and intend to help as many as we can,” said Ram Kishore.