Chennai IT employees serve meals at old-age homes and child-care centres
Five Cognizant professionals have organised 88 food-service events since 2020 with support from nearly 200 contributors.
Five IT professionals from Cognizant Technology Solutions in Chennai have been organising special meals for residents of old-age homes and child-care centres since 2020, according to The Times of India. The group, known as the Outreach Ministry Leadership & Operations Team, has conducted 88 food-service events to date.
The team includes Senthilnathan L., P. Yesuraja, Sathish Raja, Santhosh, and Sanjeev Nanda, who work at the company's Sholinganallur and MEPZ campuses. They visit institutions in Marakkanam, Red Hills, and Alamathi to plan, cook, and personally serve meals to nearly 200 people during each event.
Senthilnathan told The Hindu that the group avoids giving financial aid and only visits homes that allow them to cook and serve food. The objective is to provide residents with a memorable dining experience. The group also arranges essential items such as clothes and bedspreads for residents when required.
The initiative is supported by nearly 200 financial contributors. Sanjeev Nanda manages fundraising activities, while P. Yesuraja handles grocery shopping, often visiting Parrys Market on Fridays.
The team works with Kalandar, a chef from Tiruvallur, to prepare the meals.
The group aims to organise at least two events every month, typically on Saturdays. They have planned a Deepavali meal featuring chicken biryani and sweets for children at an institution in Red Hills on November 21.