Chennai: 25-year-old helps Covid patients with groceries – Times of India

CHENNAI: The first wave of the pandemic deprived him of employment. And just as he was setting up his own little business, the second wave and subsequent lockdown made him shut shop. But all these travails have only strengthened D Raghavendar’s resolve to help the needy.
Less than a week ago, the 25-year-old mechanical engineer and his friend launched ‘We Care Mylapore’, an initiative, which will deliver groceries, vegetables, medicines and other essential items for free to the elderly and Covid-positive people in and around Mylapore and Mandaveli. The duo also feeds homeless people in the area.
“I finished my BE in mechanical engineering in 2017. I worked with a few companies but, in December 2020, I was laid off,” says Raghavendar. “Along with my friend, Palanivel, who is also a mechanical engineer, I tried setting up a shop but didn’t succeed. So we finally opened a juice stall outside PS Senior Secondary School.”
That was three week ago. Once the lockdown was announced, they had to shut down their stall. But instead of being discouraged, the duo was determined to help other people who were in need of help.
“There are many elderly people who live alone. And we realised how difficult and unsafe it would be for them to step out, and stand in queues to get their groceries or medicines,” says Raghavendar, who launched ‘We Care Mylapore’ with Palanivel a few days ago.
“If people who are in quarantine or elderly people need essentials, they can contact us. We will buy everything and deliver it to them for free. They need to only pay for the stuff they want,” says Raghavendar. “The first day, we delivered stuff to three houses. People wanted vegetables, fruit and bread.”
They also got a call from a woman living abroad, he says. “She wanted two Savlon bottles delivered to her parents who were Covid positive,” says Raghavendar, adding that while the service is free for senior citizens and patients, others can also contact them. “We can do it for them and they can pay us whatever they want.”
The duo have also been feeding the homeless in the area. “We have seen homeless people sleeping on the pavements and on Marina beach. And many of them are elderly and are unable to feed themselves,” says Raghavendar. So, the friends dipped into the meagre savings they had and began distributing food packets. “We make around 20 packets of variety rice and, around noon, go around the area distributing it,” says Raghavendar. “We want to help everyone tide over this crisis.”