66-YO Kerala Man Sets Up Food Bank And Serves Free Lunch Daily

Kerala Man Sets Up Food Bank And Serves Free Lunch Daily
(Last Updated On: November 13, 2022)

We all earn money for living and for our children. How many of us think about the poor and hungry who don’t have money to buy food. Gulf-returned Abdul Khadar and his wife, Sunitha set up a food bank in Irinjalakuda road, Thrissur, Kerala State, India. I found this news and thought his story would be good to inspire others.

Kerala Man Sets Up Food Bank In Thrissur

Feeding hunger is the best act of mercy. The Almighty God loves and blesses the people who feed the hunger.

What does the Bible say about poverty and hunger?

He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.” Proverbs 22:9

Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” Isaiah 58:7

Feed The Hungry Bible Quote Isaiah
Feed The Hungry Bible Quote Isaiah

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness and your gloom will be as the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10

  • Where can I get some free food?
  • How can I eat if I have no money?
  • How does a food bank work?
  • What kind of food do you get at a food bank?
  • Who can use a food bank?
  • Are food banks free?

In the life journey, we all work hard to earn some money for the three necessary things, Food, Cloth and Shelter. The world has changed a lot, the lifestyle of people has changed a lot. Technology is improving day by day, humans have reached the moon and are searching for ways to stay there. Still, many are suffering from poverty, no food to feed their hungry stomach, not enough clothes to cover their body, no shelter to sleep at night.

When will poverty eradicate?

When will poverty eradicate? Why is poverty still existing in the world? Because we spend money on pleasures, name and fame forgetting the poor hungry people. When someone doesn’t have food for many days and asks for a little food to feed the hungry stomach, many times we tell them to go away.

After the party when we throw away costly food we don’t think about the poor people who sleep hungry. When we feel cold under the costly woollen quilt, we don’t think about the poor who have no cotton sheet to cover the body to escape from the severe cold on the open street. When we don’t get sleep because of a faulty air conditioner, we don’t think about the poor sleeping with stray dogs on the veranda of the shop on the street.

It doesn’t mean people are not helping them. Many people and organisations are helping the poor. They are providing free food, clothes and shelter also. But that is not enough. Many more have to come forward and help the poor.

Read Helping Others Is The Best Way To Brighten Your Life 

66-YO Kerala Man Sets Up Food Bank And Serves Free Lunch Daily

Every day from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm a small counter next to Abdul Khadar’s house in Thrissur district, Kerala serves free food packets. You can see a hoarding above the counter reads: ‘Food Bank, visakkunnavarkkoru virunnu (a feast for the hungry).’ Another board on the side states, “Lunch and drinking water available.

Food Bank
Food Bank, visakkunnavarkkoru virunnu (a feast for the hungry)

Food packets kept behind metal-glass doors at 12.30 each afternoon are accessible to all. The shelves are refilled with new packets as and when all the food packets are consumed during this time. The packet is free for all who are hungry.

Even after 2.30 p.m. if someone needs a food packet, they can enter Khadar’s compound without worries. Next to the kitchen, he has set up a table and chair to sever food for the latecomers who are hungry.

Who Is Abdul Khadar?

Three decades ago in 1979, 28-year-old Abdul Khadar was migrated to Oman in search of a job. Having lived in poverty he knew the pain of hunger. The principles of his Gandhian parents, Kunju Muhamed and Biyyu stay with him. Feeding the poor was a trait he learnt from his parents. He wanted to start a food initiative for the poor after retirement.

Abdul Khadar was an honorary councillor in Indian Embassy in Oman. He was a well-known social worker among Kerala expats in Salalah.

He is a staunch supporter of Gandhian philosophy. Khadar started this noble initiative on October 2, 2019, when he returned home in Pulloottu, Thrissur from Oman after 38 years. He chose to open a ‘food bank’ near his house to serve lunch every day to the needy.

The food is prepared by his wife Sunitha with the help of their domestic servants. The same food preparing for the family is served to the strangers. On most days, the menu is plain rice, gravy and pickle. As we know these are healthiest and easiest meals to prepare.

Sunita Khader Carrying Food
Sunita Khadar Carrying Food

In the afternoon domestic help always guards the gate. Surveillance cameras are installed around the bank to ensure that the packets are not misused and also to prevent food waste.

Food is everyone’s right. The needy and poor should not come to us begging. As everyone’s responsibility, we must introduce a mechanism where people can access food for free. As soon as we moved back, we opened the bank,” Khadar tells The Better India.

Read What Makes A Good Life?

Abdul Khadar Quote – TheNewsMinute

“I have experienced poverty and so I had decided that I would serve food for the needy when I get money. But all these years, I couldn’t do it. I was not sure as there are many risk factors involved when we keep food out in public, so I waited to return home from Oman to start this,

I have seen my mother giving food to many, even though we were in poverty. My father was a Gandhian, who would donate whatever he could. I just wanted to follow them,

Nobody should ask for food, it is everyone’s right to have food. That is why I decided to keep the food at a clean counter, so whoever needs it can take it without asking anybody,

Final Thoughts

Abdul Khadar and his wife Sunita is doing a great job by feeding the poor and homeless. They are a great inspiration to others. It is a fact that in Kerala, many small groups and organisations have arrangements for providing free food in their counters and Govt. Hospitals. People who can’t manage to do themselves donate to these organisations and groups. Let’s help the poor and homeless to live a peaceful life.

How do you respond when a hungry person ask for help?

Is there any food bank in your area serving free food to the hungry?

Let me know your thoughts and suggestions in the comment box below.

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References and image credits: TheNewsMinute The Better India

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