This group of delivery agents from Chennai is feeding those in need from their pockets

Mohammad Dasthageer was well acquainted with hunger and food growing up. While his father ran a catering business, there was always food cooking at home, but none to eat. All the money his father earned, he spent on alcohol.

At one point, surviving as a family of five became so hard that Dasthageer—the eldest of three children—dropped out of school and started working odd jobs to make ends meet. And so did his younger brother. Together, they ensured their younger sister went to college.

“I understand the pain of hunger better than the lure of money,” he says. 

In the last six months, he, along with 14 friends—all of whom are delivery agents with Zepto, Swiggy, and Zomato—have used their earnings to feed almost 500 people with various vulnerabilities, in partnership with NGOs across Chennai.

“It started as a birthday plan for my daughter’s first birthday in March this year,” says B Silambarasan, Dasthageer 's friend and a Zepto delivery agent. "I wanted to throw a party at home when Mohammad suggested we instead celebrate by feeding people who don't get to eat a festive meal all that much," the 25-year-old says. 

"I resonated with this cause personally because, for years, my family and I would go to sleep on an empty stomach after my father stopped working,” continues Silambarasan, who completed his diploma in electrical and electronics engineering while working as a mason and funeral worker. 

He adds, “I’ve been making stable money only in the last few years. So, the idea of feeding people who had little means almost became my life’s purpose."

Besides Silambarasan, Dasthageer’s friends—Aravind Natesan and Semmairaj—started the food drive with 35 kids and young adults with hearing and speech impairment at the Sathana School for the Deaf in Kelambakkam, Chennai.  

While Silambarasan bore the food expenses, which came to about Rs 4,000, the others pooled money to buy gift boxes containing toiletries for each child at the home. 

Aravind says, “We didn’t know we would end up doing it regularly. Watching the kids enjoy a feast that day gave us such joy that we then decided this would be a monthly ritual.”

According to Dasthageer, every group member keeps aside Rs 250 from their weekly earnings, contributing Rs 1,000 per month. With the contribution—which goes up to Rs 15,000 per month—they pick a charity or non-profit of their choice and place an order with their regular cook to provide meals for all residents and staff. 

“As delivery agents, we are paid by the week. Some of us are not very well off. Some don’t own homes or have another source of income. But, watching us, more people are drawn to the cause,” Dasthageer adds.

Over the last seven months, the group has grown to 15 delivery agents who have joined them through word of mouth or social media. Besides Sathana, they have donated meals to Sastha Old Age Home in Kundrathur, Anbagam Home for People with Mental Illness, and Paradise Home for Children with Mental Illness.

Their latest destination was The Banyan’s facility for mentally ill and homeless women at Kovalam, Chennai. “The gesture was special for us. This group of friends thrives on daily wages and incentives. Over time, more people have joined them,” says Keerthana R, Lead of Emergency Care and Rescue Services, The Banyan. 

“They sat with our clients and enjoyed a meal with them. We also spoke to them about our services, and they have assured us to help in all possible ways, including volunteering with us,” she adds.

The group plans to sponsor meals for 1,000 people by the end of this year.