A Month's Supply of Dry Rations Saves the Day for Amma Orphan Old Age Home, Warangal

 

Amma Sri Devi, who provides care and shelter for 110 elderly inmates (56 women and 54 men), is one of several individuals whose work was stopped in its tracks because of the ongoing pandemic. Regular donors of provisions and essential supplies had dwindled and she had to resort to seeking alms from local inhabitants to eke out basic provisions required to sustain her cherished family.

 

 

A SSM volunteer's visit to the home revealed the precarious condition of its inhabitants. Within a week's time the SSM Hyderabad team was able to procure a month's supply of rice, cooking oil, semolina, lentils, sugar and spices. Detergents, soaps, and cleaning solutions were also included at the request of the inmates.

 

 

Team members delivered this consignment on July 3, 2021 in the face of tremendous odds: the local vendor tested COVID positive; Amma Sri Devi met with an accident and suffered a head injury; and the new vendor's credentials had to be verified.

 

 

The team found the experience deeply satisfying despite the challenges endured as it gave them an opportunity to provide relief to the elderly in a small town from which voices are rarely heard in distant, bigger cities.