Hailed as one of the best seasons of the year, Delhi winters are usually extreme with the temperature dropping to as low as zero degree Celsius. While some find this to be delightful, the harsh winters can be fatal for impoverished groups of the population who lack access to adequate heating at this time of year.

Caritas India under its Christmas Express 2022, urged people to donate blankets this season to the needy. With the support of more than 123 donors, Caritas India staff and volunteers distributed about 955 blankets in total across various parts of Delhi with an aim to help the poor and homeless people cope with the severe cold.

Sheetal, a 15-year-old girl weeps at the thought of cold evenings she would have to endure with nothing but a thin rug and a fire by the roadside. Living in a Delhi slum, Sheetal suffered a lot after her father died of COVID. Her mother has been struggling to provide for her and her younger sister. She is aware of her hardships, but without assistance she worries, the family may not be able to endure the piercing cold.

Several hundred people like Sheetal received warm blankets from Caritas India’s Christmas express programme to be able to survive through the chilling winter of Delhi. Sheetal expressed her prayers and thanked Caritas India and all the donors for this gesture of kindness in such desperate times.

In an event organised at SPARSH Bethany Social Services Society in Burari, over a hundred migrant workers and needy people were invited to be given blankets. His Eminence Archbishop Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, Archbishop of Delhi blessed the event with his presence and distributed the blankets among the people. Around 200 warm blankets were distributed among the needy. The Director of SPARSH Bethany Health Centre, Sr. Dr. Preeti Marget briefed the participants about the humanitarian work done by the centre for the destitute. Vinod, a migrant worker spoke about the crucial support in terms of food, shelter and transport provided by the centre during the tumultuous times of the first Covid wave.

His Eminence spoke about the need for tolerance and coexistence in society. He underscored the value of humanity as the strongest bond that triumphs over all other bonds of caste, creed, class, and religion. He reiterated the fundamentals of peace and harmony that links together people of different faith and enable the good in all. His Holiness, then thanked Sister, Preeti for the valuable humanitarian support provided to the impoverished.

Charity is love in action and this season we focused particularly the women, children, cancer patients, elderly people, and migrants to help them survive the winters.

As the campaign ends, Caritas India expresses gratitude to all the donors for contributing and making Christmas Express 2022 a successful one. Let this Christmas Express not be the end of the spirit of giving.