“There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others”-Mandy Hale
This is exactly what D’Souza family from Borivali, Mumbai is doing. The family has been providing free food service to around 48 senior citizens in and around their vicinity.
This noble and novel initiative started five years back in 2012. Mrs Yvonne D’Souza, who is an active social activist, was deeply moved by the plight of many senior citizens living in her vicinity. Many of them were living alone and had no one to look after. “It is really sad to see frail and weak senior citizens living all by themselves. Many of them have kids who are either staying overseas or other parts of the country. While some of them are so weak and fragile that they are unable to cook because of their age or some kind of disability, there are many who do not want to spend on maids. Most of the senior citizens prefer living independently and do not desire to leave the homes and surroundings where they have been staying since ages,” says Yvonne. She felt there was a need to start an initiative that could at least take care of their meals.
To her delight, her husband, Mark D’Souza also expressed his desire to do something for them and the idea of starting tiffin service took birth.
With just Rs. 5,000 in hand, the couple started off the initiative. To begin with, they started giving free meal dabbas to five senior citizens in IC Colony, Borivali. Today they provide free food to 48 senior citizens living not only in Borivali but in Mahim and Andheri as well. Their son, Erik helps too in their endeavor and goes with Mark to personally deliver the dabbas in Borivali. For the senior citizens living in Mahim and Andheri, they have hired a dabbawala for delivery and the money is borne by the D’Souzas.
The menu
D’souza’s four-compartment dabba comprises five to six chapatis, rice, sabzi and dal. On Wednesdays, there is an egg curry, while chicken or fish curry is on the platter on Sundays. “We cook the food in a hygienic environment using less oil, less salt and spices. However, the dabba is packed with loads of love,” says Mark with a smile.
The husband and wife buy the vegetables daily. They have two cooks who help them in preparing the meal. “I tell my cook, ‘God is watching our actions and we should not compromise on the quality of our work,” says Yvonne, who herself makes 80-90 chapatis daily. Mark and Erik start their delivery schedule by noon which goes on till 2.30 pm.
Around 250 rotis are made per day and 6kgs of vegetable is brought to prepare sabzi every day. “With God’s grace, the dabba service, since its inception, has never had a break,” beamingly says Yvonne.
The D’Souzas do not take donation or money, but if any one wishes to be a part of the initiative, they can buy fruits or vegetables.
“The smiles and blessings of the people who eat our food and the blessings from my friends are what we really seek,” say the couple in chorus. And rightly so for after all, “Happiest are those who do the most for others.”
Mark D’Souza can be contacted on +91 98338 53523.
