AICUF’ ers of St Aloysius Feed the Hungry & Homeless on City Streets

AICUF’ ers of St Aloysius Feed the Hungry & Homeless on City Streets

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me “- Matthew 25:35-40

Mangaluru : On 3rd March 2018 the All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF) members of St Aloysius College (autonomous ) Mangaluru, acting as Good Samaritans took the streets from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m with packets of food with them .The AICUF team led by the Animators-Anup Denzil Veigas and Ms Vinola Sequeira, and the AICUF’ers drove/rode and walked around the streets of Mangaluru and fed nearly 800 hungry and homeless.

The food was prepared by the AICUF ‘ers at Jayanagar in Nagori-Mangaluru. The preparation of food began on 2nd March at 8 p.m. and the food was ready by next day morning , all packed in 800 boxes. The AICUF’ ers started their hunger drive programme at 1 p.m on 3rd March at Pachanadi slum area. The AICUL volunteers, along with Fr Dionysius Vaz-Rector of St Aloysius Institutions also ate the food along with the slum dwellers.

The AICUF’ ers felt the satisfaction when the little kinds of slum were delightful by the visit of Fr Rector. Fr Vaz said that these people immigrated from Tamilnadu and have settled here engaging themselves in the work in the dumping yard-here there are two types of families- the ones having roof over their heads are the ones who are recognized by the government and are their employees .The other set of families who live in huts are the ones who are striving hard to be recognized by the government and to get a land for them”.

Fr further added “ We need to think differently about these people. We need to make sure that this generation should be educated so as to lead their life .St Aloysius institutions provide free education to the students of kannada medium with books ,bags, shoes ,uniforms .We need to see that they do not sit at home after their SSLC .We need to make them to join the 1 year courses or any other education . We need to educate them on the importance of Hygiene also”.

The AICUF unit of SAC later on moved to the streets .The AICUF’ ers distributed the food near Nehru Maidan, State Bank area, Padil, KSRTC Bus stand, Sacred Heart Orphanage ,Railway Station, among many other places, covering almost all places in Mangaluru. At around 6 in the evening all the packets of food were distributed to the homeless and the needy.

It was indeed a delightful day for the proud AICUF’ ers of St Aloysius College, receiving the blessings from the old aged and also young people, for the good work and gesture. The hot sun didn’t bother the AICUF’ ers because the AICUF ‘ers were the reason for the shining eyes of the children and the smile and happiness at the wrinkled faces took all the odds away and made the AICUF’ ers more motivated for the future.

Report submitted by : Ms Vinola Sequeira, Asst Professor/AICUF Animator