Do-gooders shine through for rain-affected

The rain may have forced many people to stay indoors, what with entire neighbourhoods in the city being submerged, and those in the low-lying areas having to be evacuated. But there are those — individuals and organisations —who have taken it upon themselves to help the needy by mobilising food supply and other requirements.

Raindropss, a social organisation, served food to around 300 people in Vyasarpadi. “Our organisation already runs ‘Virunthali - Feed The Needy’ project which has us taking our food truck to several areas during the weekend to feed the homeless. But with rains of this severity, we diverted our truck to Vyasarpadi and headed towards the Seers Girls Home,” says Aravind Jayabal, founder. “When we reached there, we were told that the girls had had nothing to eat since the morning. We plan to take more food for people in Saidapet and the surrounding areas.”

Sathish P., a Gopalapuram resident, on Sunday created a Facebook page called ‘Food Support for Flood Suffering People’, asking for volunteers to either give donations or distribute food packets. “There are friends and family members who contributed to put together food packets that I’ll be personally distributing in Teynampet and other areas on Mount Road.”

Those who wish to help or volunteer can also log on to http://volunteers.org, which tracks what people need across the city. “It is an individual effort. We are a core team of 10 volunteers from different NGOs across the city. For instance, individuals have taken responsibility for one area and ensured that food and other relief materials are reached there,” says Sumita Pai, a volunteer. “We are giving away food, rations, clothes and other relief materials in various parts of the city. There are many who have come forward to help in their own way. For instance, one gentleman contacted us, saying he had pumps that could be used to clear the flood waters.”

Then there are those who do what has to be done of their own accord. Auto drivers in Nungambakkam set an example by helping clear stagnant water. “There is knee-deep water in Nungambakkam lane and the situation has been the same since Sunday night. When we came in the morning, we realised the storm water drain was clogged. Around eight of us from the stand used sticks and our hands to remove plastic bags and other waste to unclog the drain. Now finally, the water is slowly moving,” says an auto driver.