The aroma of fresh, hot meals wafts through the air as Lakshmi, a daily wage worker, stands patiently in line within the Government Medical College Campus in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Clutching her steel plate, Lakshmi waits for what might be her only proper meal of the day. For nine years, this daily act of kindness by the Lions of District 318A has been a lifeline for hundreds like her.
The initiative began in 2016 as a response to Lions Clubs International’s Centennial Service Challenge. The then District Governor Alex Kuriakose and the District Cabinet decided to make the Relieving Hunger Project a daily mission throughout the centennial year – and beyond.
With Lion P. Sivakumar leading a dedicated team, the project quickly took shape. They chose Rajaji Nagar Colony, Chengalchoola, a place where many struggled to make ends meet, as their starting point. The partnership with Pankaj Kasthuri Ayurveda Medical College proved crucial – their modern kitchen could prepare healthy meals at scale, while Lions provided the volunteers and coordination to make it happen.
The project was inaugurated on July 1, 2016 by Shri Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Co-Operation, Tourism, and Devaswom, Government of Kerala. Several political leaders, the local MLA, the Mayor of the Corporation and Lion dignitaries participated in the distribution of meals on different days.
Lions from different clubs across the district embraced the initiative wholeheartedly, sponsoring meals to celebrate birthdays, mark anniversaries, or honor the memory of loved ones. Their enthusiastic support ensured meals were funded every single day of the year. At noon, 200 freshly prepared meal packets made their way from the college kitchen to hungry people waiting in Chengalchoola.
However, it was the move to the Government Medical College campus, Kerala’s largest state-run super-specialty hospital that revealed the potential of the project. The hospital sees hundreds of patients daily, many traveling from remote parts of Kerala and neighboring Tamil Nadu for the quality medical care provided free of cost. For these patients – and their attendants – a hot, fresh meal becomes a source of comfort and strength.
By 11 AM each day, over 300 people gather with their plates and vessels. The volunteers serve hot meals with several side dishes, ensuring nobody leaves hungry. Each day brings new faces behind the serving counter – sponsors with their families, friends, and home club members, all coming together to serve.
The project’s impact has grown with its popularity among Lion members. The daily meal service, sponsored at Rs. 6,000 per day, attracted such strong support that a second counter was added last year. Now, alongside the main meals, a kanji (rice gruel) counter operates at Rs. 2,000 per day, both services fully booked throughout the year by Lions eager to serve.
District Governor M. A. Vahab oversees the project, with Lion Anita Ajay Chandra serving as Project Coordinator for 2024-2025. Together with dedicated volunteers, they ensure the service continues without interruption. Nine years, lakhs of meals, and countless smiles later, this daily act of service remains as essential as it was on day one.