As the country is grappling with the post-lockdown crisis and unemployment surge, Caritas India decided to celebrate Christmas this season with newness by launching ‘Christmas Express’, a campaign highlighting the essence of volunteering and building a sharing community. This campaign was launched on 7^th December 2020 and was carried out till 15^th January 2021.

With various activities been organised, Caritas India was able to mobilise around Rs 12 Lakh and reach out to more than 4000 people. This campaign had been first of the time for Caritas, as it was organised and run entirely by the Staff. Caritas India staff went out of their routine work schedule and mobilised funds from their own local networks. With the support of more than 800 donors, Caritas India was able to reach out to people with blankets in six states of the Northern country in this winter season. It also distributed meals and cakes across the country and plans to continue the distribution process in the coming months as well.

To mark the closure of the campaign, three main initiatives were carried out by the staff in Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu. In Chennai, as part of Pongal celebration, lunch was served to the seventy inmates of Missionaries of Charity home at Little Mount.

In Delhi, Anand Bhoj – Meal of Joy was organised. Hot Vegetable Khichdi was cooked and distributed to 150 homeless people in and around Connaught Place. The employees were involved from buying the food, cooking, transporting and distributing the meal to people. Sharing a Meal is one of the noble services to humankind. Since Caritas India’s Strategic Plan focuses on volunteering, it becomes necessary for the staff of Caritas India to lead by example and act what we preach. Thus, ‘Anand-Bhoj: Meal of Joy’ was an opportunity for the staff to organize, manage and run the community kitchen.

Viraj Singh, a homeless originally from Nepal was relieved after receiving the food packet as his meal was taken care for the today. A few days back he came to Delhi to collect his Visa but was cheated by the agent and while sleeping outside on the streets, his luggage was also stolen. Now he just roams around the day looking for some work and at night he sleeps outside Sacred Heart Cathedral Church.

Another initiative taken as a closure to the campaign was the distribution of the blankets in Chhattisgarh. The current winter wave has added to the pandemic misery of those living on the streets. Hence, to share the warmth of Christmas, 400 blankets were distributed to the people from slum areas and the lepers & the Third Gender living in Bilaspur district. During this campaign, Caritas India reached out to thousands with blankets in northern states – Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and states in the North East.

As Caritas India wraps up the campaign, it has nothing but gratitude for all its donors. Christmas Express was made possible by the support and contribution of the hundreds of donors and volunteers. The Management of Caritas India along with the staff extends heartfelt gratitude and thanks to each of the donors. Let this spirit of Sharing not die with this Christmas Express. The journey to reach the last mile still continues.