Hyderabad :

With night temperatures dipping in the city, many blanket donation drives are being organised for the poor and homeless. As per GHMC records of January 2014, there are 3,498 homeless people living in Hyderabad.

One such initiative was started by NGO Robin Hood Army, consisting of 70 volunteers, who distributed 1,350 blankets in Banjara hills, Secunderabad railway station and Gachibowli. “Since the temperature is dipping, we thought of giving back to the community something that we have. About six bags of old clothes were also distributed by 12 teams in various areas,” said Spoorthi Reddy, a volunteer of Robin Hood Army.

Observing Boxing Day on December 26, the Joy of Sharing Society distributed about 800 blankets to several homeless people in Madhapur, Kukatpally and Dilsukhnagar. “We observed that many homeless were sleeping using plastic sheets to protect themselves from the cold. Hence, we decided to distribute blankets to them,” said A Raghuveer, president of the Joy of Sharing Society. The NGO will be distributing another 200 blankets to old-age homes and orphanages.

The cold wave is not only affecting people but also animals. Blue Cross Hyderabad has been aiding sick and injured dogs in the city for the past 23 years by conducting blankets and clothes drives.

“We have 200 sick and injured puppies and another 500 animals in our shelter. Like humans, even animals suffer a lot during winter. When wounds are exposed to the cold, it is more painful. In such cases, we ask people to donate blankets and cotton clothes so as to make beddings for the pets,” said N Pravallika, education officer at Blue Cross Hyderabad.

Apart from NGOs, there are companies like Mist n Creams, in association with Youngistan Foundation and Hyderabad Foodies Club, who joined this drive on Boxing Day. They distributed blankets, woolens, socks, mufflers, bed-sheets and food to many underprivileged people in the city.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / December 29th, 2014