A run out with the Robin Hood Army in New Delhi India

The Robin Hood Army is an amazing organisation that only came into being in August 2014. Started by a couple of youngsters in 1 city with 6 Robins. It is a volunteer based organization that works to get surplus food from restaurants across to the less fortunate people.

By December 2015 they had 2000 Robins in 21 cities. That is monumental by any standards. They currently have 3500 Robins and have served over 51143 people in 23 cities.

On my last night in Delhi I had the privilege of joining a Chapter of Robins at Nehru Place New Delhi for their Sunday evening run. I joined a group of people meeting on the lawn outside the Metro Station. I had previously communicated with them via email and was pleased to locate Symantak De who informed the group of the evenings plans.

We would place as many of the group in the available cars and head out to a restaurant who regularly packs up a vast amount of hot prepared food ready for collection. No money changes hands as these restaurants join willingly to help the underprivileged people of the city.

We then drove to a location outside the local hospital, one of the largest in Delhi. Now as you will know, I have worked in some very poor and deprived parts of Delhi, but I had never come across the site that was now before my eyes. 

There were people on mats, lining the pavement because there were either no beds available in the hospital or they could not afford the fees. This is so unacceptable on so many levels.

A queue quickly formed as the car boot was opened and the Robins commenced their first distribution for the evening. Whilst two members distributed the food others kept the line in check.  After a while and when the food stocks where running down, a halt was called to the distribution. There were still some people who didn't get a share, but this is always the case as there are more hungry people than there is food. Hopefully they will get their share on the next run.

We then moved off down the street to re-group. The remaining food was distributed among the cars and the volunteers split into groups and given a location to head to. I and 4 other volunteers headed off to a large intersection and flyover under which a few homeless families were living.
  
                                        

We took the bags of rice and dhal from the car and walked into the homeless area to be greeted by smiles and open arms by young and old alike. It is not surprising they were happy to see us as this may be the only hot food they will have all week.

My time with the RHA was short, but it certainly impressed upon me, not only the need for more support both in the volunteer sector but also the generosity of restaurant owners. The large chain restaurants will not support this group. With them it is all about $$$$. It is the small independent restaurants that make this possible and my heartfelt thanks goes out to them  because without them, these food runs would not happen. This is not waste food the RHA is distributing, it is fresh cooked especially for them by people who see the need and have a caring heart.

The RHA is a very decentralised organization and does not accept monetary contributions- they just need your time. http://robinhoodarmy.com/