“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible but also for what we do not do.” – Moliere

In these times of the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve probably seen and heard many famous personalities say, “We’re all in this together”. It’s comforting to know this. We are all suffering together and we need to be thankful for what we have because there are many many others in situations worse off than ourselves. But that’s just one half of the lesson. The other half is that we must become more responsible together so that we can get out of this mess as quickly as possible. Taking responsibility by maintaining social distancing, not coughing, spitting or sneezing in public without a mask or covering, considering the needs of others and not hoarding… are all a matter of basic social etiquette, which enables us to live responsibly together. Through small things like this, we can make a huge difference and actually turn the tide. In the end, it is not only for what we do that we are responsible but also for what we do not do!

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Although our children do not fully comprehend how COVID-19 is endangering human life, they know that it is bad enough to have disrupted their world and that people outside our walls are suffering. They were more than willing to hear us out and lend a helping hand in making free cloth masks for distribution. Following the instructions on how to make multiple-layer, snugly fitted cloth masks at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site, our teenagers took up the challenge of making more than 100 masks a day until the end of the lockdown. They have made around 3000 masks since April 14, of which we distributed around 2140 masks through our volunteers to the most vulnerable sections of society such as the elderly, the differently abled, migrant workers and homeless people.

Number of masks distributed across areas: Perambur–100, Kolathur–100, Padi–150, Redhills-100, Villivakkam–210, Thiruvika Nagar–200, Thamaraipakkam–100, Ambattur–300, Mogappair–100, Moolakadai–80, Kilpauk–200, and Vellore–500. Our children continue working tirelessly on this project.

If you would like to donate towards the purchase of cloth and sewing materials, please contact our office on the numbers below.

Since the 24th of April, Sri Arunodayam has prepared and distributed dry ration kits to over 730 marginalized/poor families of daily wage earners in Chennai and Thiruvallur Districts. Each kit contains rice (5 kgs), dhal (1 kg), cooking oil (1 ltr.), sugar (1 kg) and salt (1 kg). Thank you dear donors for making this possible! May you be doubly blessed for your generosity.

Here’s a snapshot of kits distributed: 24th April (Thiruvallur Dist. Thamaraipakkam) – 85 Gypsy families; 30th April (Thiruvallur Dist. Kalpattur, Mamandur and Aavajipet villages) – 145 bonded and daily wage labourers from the Irular tribe; 1st May (Thiruvallur Dist. Old Erumaivetty Palayam, New Erumavetty Palayam, and Athur villages) – 188 daily wage labourers and families of the differently abled; 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th, 30th April, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th May (Chennai - Nasarathpuram near Guindy, Anna Sathiya Nagar Slum, Thiruvottriyur, Kannagi Nagar, Ezhil Nagar and Kalarai Thottam) – 315 daily wage labourers, differently abled, sanitary workers and slum dwellers.

If you would like to share in this good work which will continue every day, please contact our office at the numbers below. This is a great opportunity to reach out to people most in need at these times!

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Sri Arunodayam is a secular organization with zero tolerance for discrimination against children regardless of religion, caste, race, ethnicity, disability or gender.