Chennai: The overwhelming response to several community-driven initiatives in Mugappair in the city is proving again and again that the benevolence of our locality’s residents has no bounds.
A visible proof to this fact can be seen outside the Revenue Divisional Office (RDO) on Ambattur Estate Road, in the region, where an NGO called The Candles has set up a ‘Wall of Kindness’.
So, what is this Wall of Kindness?, News Today asked Prabhu, the joint director of The Candles.
He said,”This is a concept where anyone can donate unused or good quality clothes, footwear, toys, books, etc., to the needy to use by leaving it in a dedicated place reserved for this purpose. In Tamilnadu, this was first initiated in Tirunelveli Collectorate. In our area, we have installed a wooden rack on the wall of the RDO, where anyone can just leave the materials they wish to donate.”
“You can always see the racks full indicating that the kind-hearted residents have wholly welcomed the initiative,” he said.
Explaining how they chose the location, he said,”Since our Wall of Kindness is in a government building, a lot of people will be able to access it without any hesitation, as opposed to a private place. Moreover, the RDO office is on the border of Mugappair, Anna Nagar and Padi. A lot of economically well-settled people in Anna Nagar and Mugappair are coming forward to help the economically weaker sections of people living in and around Padi and surroundings.”
He added that since their NGO is based out of Golden Colony in Mugappair West, it is also easier for the volunteers to maintain and take care of the place. Elderly people who wish to give out materials for this cause can also call the organisation and volunteers will come to collect the materials from their doorsteps and then take it to the Wall.
Prabhu says that the people are contributing regularly and those in need are taking the materials from time to time for their use.
“Daily wage migrant workers employed in construction sites nearby are the biggest benefactors. We have been receiving many positive feedbacks from them as they could save a considerable part of their earnings from spending on clothes and other items.” he said.
Candles have also engaged in other projects like taking free spoken English classes in government schools, medical camps, free tuition centres, beautification of public premises by conducting group wall painting activities and so on.
A few weeks back, News Today had written a similar story about a doctor who set up a community fridge outside Aarogya Hospital in Mugappair East, where anyone can put food in and share it with anyone within a community, especially the poor.
We have received word that this initiative too has found good reception among the people in the locality. To reach Candles, contact 9994613509.