This festive season, spread the joy of food

Festivities in India are always marked by food.

- SMITHA MENON

Several organisations run community kitchens or deliver meals.

(ISTOCKPHOTO)

Come October, kitchen stoves and ovens light up to create all manner of handmade goodies, from Bihar's khaja to Maharashtra's karanji to Tamil Nadu's thenkuzhal, and countless more. Recipes are swapped, ingredients prepped and the cooking begins. As much as the joy of eating is a wondrous one, it is made sweeter when shared. And so, instead of discussing the next big thing in dining out, this month, this column gives you a little nudge to spread the joy of food with the less fortunate by contributing to these organisations (listed in no particular order) and their noble missions.

KHAANA CHAHIYE

Khaana Chahiye Foundation is a not-for-profit company, working on data-driven, community-led and policy-oriented solutions for urban hunger. Founded by Ruben Mascarenhas and Paathik Muni, the Mumbai-based organisation runs two community kitchens in Kurla and Ulhasnagar to feed the needy as well as an SOS grocery service to identify those in extreme need and provide them with emergency grocery support. Currently, they are in the process of creating Mumbai's hunger map, for better visualisation, engagement and data-driven policy intervention by local governments. khaanachahiye.com

ROBIN HOOD ARMY