Parul University’s initiative of providing meals on wheels to the elderly in villages

Vadodara-based Parul University’s Social Responsive Cell has been playing an active role in ensuring the welfare of the various members of the underprivileged community who require constant support.

To mark the commemoration of this year’s International Day for the Elderly, the University inaugurated HUNF, an initiative dedicated to providing food relief through a tiffin service to the elderly through the use of a mobile van.

A team of Parul University’s Social Responsive Cell volunteers identified various elderly groups within the villages surrounding Waghodia, who were living in conditions of disadvantage to the extent of not being able to fend for their meals. The SRC team has been preparing one-time hot meals, which they have been delivering to the doors of these orphan adults. To ensure the convenience of the elderly and the efficiency in their services, a specific van has been dedicated to this purpose, and this will further allow the team to reach even the most marginalized parts of these villages.

With the COVID-19 pandemic creating drastic changes in the conditions of the economy and the society at large, various vulnerable groups have been left completely impoverished, with either limited support or reduced means of survival. To help in the fight against these socio-economic challenges, through initiative, Parul University hopes to help in mitigating and reducing the challenges which this pandemic has been creating. “As we walked through these villages, we saw the elderly facing various challenges and many of them did not have any family to take of them. Amongst the challenges they faced, we saw that the lack of food was the most common of them all”, said Parul University’s SRC coordinator, Mr. Vinod Sharma.

“We have started with one village and gradually will be expanding to many more villages because the issues and challenges of food shortages and malnutrition can hinder the health and welfare of the elderly. We all owe a duty to the society, and as Parul University and the Social Responsive Cell this is our way of doing our part”, said Dr. Geetika Patel, Managing Trustee, and Chairperson, Social Responsive Cell.