Many countries in the world are in complete lockdown due to the COVID-19 global health crisis. The only way to survive this pandemic is to be in this together and stay in quarantine. Several NGOs, volunteers and individuals are coming forward to help the needy at this hour of the crisis. Itâs because of this compassion we can fight this pandemic and come out stronger than ever. In one such instance, an Indian-origin safari operator based in Kenya is feeding thousands of families there.

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Pankaj Shah is spearheading this volunteer effort, and started the initiative after he was devastated to see people starving and struggling to sustain themselves amid the lockdown.  âPeople were getting hungry and angry,â Shah told Reuters.  

In Kenya, safari operator Pankaj Shahâs team has sent out 24,000 hampers since setting up on March 22, each with enough food to last a family of five for two weeks https://t.co/d5tSxOFpjy pic.twitter.com/zHvmsD00qZ

Initially, when he started getting in touch with people who were interested to be part of this noble initiative, a local school which was closed due to the  coronavirus outbreak offered their campus premises as headquarters. Kenya's Asian community, which was officially recognised as the country's 44th tribe three years ago, came together in this battle against the virus. They brought cheques or truckloads of food that could not be transported due to the cancellation of flights. Interestingly enough, the volunteers, who call themselves âTeam Pankajâ, have sent out 24,000 packages of food since March 22. Each hamper contains enough food to last a family of five people for two weeks.

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"One old woman told us she hadnât eaten for days - her sons had stopped supplying her because they have no work," Shah told. Notably, this Indian-origin safari operator gets his inspiration for community service from his idol Mother Teresa whom he says he met decades ago in Nairobi. He is urging wealthy Kenyans to donate 4,000 Kenya shillings (Rs 2,890) for the food packages. Also, he pointed out that the amount is about the cost of two pizzas and a bottle of wine. "I just need half the rich people here to care enough to fund a hamper," he said. Two lorries full of food were sent for distribution in Deep Sea slum last week. Residents were given with orange tokens and had to get their fingers inked before getting the boxes and bags of vegetables. Pregnant women and those with babies were offered help by volunteers, said the news report. As of now there are around 246 coronavirus cases in Kenya and the death toll stands at 11. Kudos to this man and his team for this noble gesture!

(Source: Reuters)

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