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1. Mercy Kits: Covid-19 pandemic aggravated hunger and poverty crisis in India, pushing many households in Bangalore in food insecurity. An initiative to address the concerns of the major food crisis arising due to lockdown, an initiative of “Mercy Kits” was taken up. MM NGOs got into action, procured and distributed dry ration kits (especially) during the months of April & May 2020 to help ensure that those who have lost their livelihood can have food on their table.
Overall during Covid 1.0, MM NGOs together bought and distributed 73,007 dry ration kits worth approx. ₹7.5 cr spread across 300+ localities in Bengaluru & 25+ towns across Karnataka. Additionally, r we 32³10,090 kits donated by Zomato Feeding India, Rotary Midtown etc. were distributed by MM NGOs. These 83,000+ ration kits helped prepare close to 77.8 lakh meals.
66,835 dry ration kits worth Rs 7.1 cr bought & distributed across 300 localities
10,090 ration kits donated by Zomato, Rotary Midtown etc. distributed
2. Mercy Kitchen: Mercy Mission developed a modern, hygienic kitchen facility- “Mercy Kitchen '' in order to prepare a nutritious full meal for the frontline warriors (doctors & hospital staff), COVID patients and the poor who were hit hard by the lockdown. Many COVID hospitals did not have kitchen staff or functional pantries.
This Mercy Kitchen was has been set up at CMA hostel in JayanagarCrescent Institutions, Basavanagudi. It has served the needs of patients and staff at HBS Hospital, Al Ameen Hospital, Varcity Step Down Hospital, Jeevan Jyoti Covid Care Centre, the elderly in Arul-Ragigudda slum, and a Homeless night shelter in a temple in Kalasipalyam.
There were 9 Mercy Kitchens run by MM NGOs – in Basavanagudi, Bhoopasandra, Nayandahalli, Govindpura, Tilaknagar, Yeshwantpur, Mysore Road, Mahadevpura and DJ Halli). Mercy Doctors Kitchen has been functioning since 6-July and has served 60,000+ meals so far to Victoria, HBS, CV Raman, KC General Hospitals, RBANMS and Bowring Hostels.
They have served around ~1,50,420 meals worth approx. ₹36.6L.
Food was cooked and packed in a total of 33 kitchens across the city. Of these, 23 were directly operated by Mercy Mission NGOs, and 10 were operated by various individuals and groups across the city. The Kitchens provided hot cooked meals packed in packets which were distributed to migrants, needy and the poor who did not have provisions or access to cook their own food during this lockdown period.
The final estimated count of cooked and distributed food packets by Mercy Mission Kitchens from 22nd Mar till 31st May is 14.5 lakh packets of value Rs 2.63 crore. Additionally, Mercy Mission volunteers helped in picking up and distributing 12.3 lakh food packets which were donated by Atria, Compass, Prestige, Wipro, B.B.M.P, DIPR, etc. Ninjacart sent ~34 tons of vegetables to Mercy Mission worth Rs 9.3 lakhs which was used to improve the nutritious value and taste of the cooked food.
3. Mercy Warehouses: To facilitate the Mercy Kits & Kitchens activities, 9 warehouses were operated by MM NGOs across the city. Ration was bought, stored, sorted, packed and dispatched from them. The locations were Avalahalli, Bhoopsandra, Basavanagudi, Mysore road, Banaswadi, Govindpura, DJ Halli, Kaggadaspura, and Tilaknagar.
4. Shramik Seva: When the Shramik special trains to carry migrants back to their hometowns operated from 1-May-2020 to 6-Jun-2020, MM got into action. 1.32 lakh passengers in 107 Shramik trains departing from Bengaluru were served with 2.85 lakh meals & essentials kits. This activity was funded by the Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives (APPI), with in-kind support from Pepsi, thinking forks and me & Unibic. The entire activity of sorting and packing the kits for over a month was done in the premises of Crescent Association, Basavanagudi.
5. Mercy Mission Helpline: A public helpline (080 47185566) was set-up by MM to reach out to the most needy households & migrants requiring food, ration and medicine. In 53 days (29-Mar to 20-May) of operation by a team of 12 volunteers,the helpline received 15,666 distress calls directly benefitting 1+ lakh people.
A centralized public helpline was set-up by Mercy Mission to reach out to the patients requiring Ambulance, Oxygen, Mercy Sahay, Home care and Bed Guidance services. A team of 30+ volunteers and 20 staff are operating the helpline. We had Received 15,652 distress calls over 52 days,74% requests addressed, 1 lakh+ People benefitted.
We have received 124,192 calls during the 2 months, of which 55,623 are unique numbers. We have been able to respond to 24,840 calls using this resource.
6. Mercy Kitchen 2.0: Many COVID hospitals did not have kitchen staff or functional pantries. In response to this, MM developed a modern, hygienic kitchen facility at CMA Hostel, Jayanagar, in order to prepare a nutritious full meal to the frontline warriors (doctors & hospital staff) and even COVID patients. Mercy Doctors Kitchen has been functioning since 6-Jul and has served 60,000+ meals to Victoria, HBS, CV Raman, KC General hospitals, RBANMS and Bowring Hostels.