What is Ayyamittu Unn? A Community Fridge Initiative Serving with Dignity
Ayyamittu Unn, a community fridge initiative, has been serving people with dignity for the past 8 years. Learn how they’re changing the way we think about food and welfare.
Image Credit : The Weekend Leader
The Power of Community: Dr. Issa Fathima Jasmine’s Ayyamittu Unn Initiative
Dr. Issa Fathima Jasmine, a Chennai-based orthodontist and social activist, has been making waves with her innovative community fridge initiative, Ayyamittu Unn. Founded in 2017, the project aims to combat food wastage and hunger by providing free community refrigerators in public areas where anyone can donate or take food.
“I wanted to find someone else to whom I could provide food to. I really wanted to do it, because it gave me inner peace,” says Dr. Issa, who realized that countless people in the country go to sleep hungry every night. Inspired by similar initiatives in the UK and Germany, Dr. Issa decided to bring the concept to Chennai.
How it Works
The community fridges, with capacities ranging from 400 to 600 liters, are strategically located in high-footfall areas where both donors and recipients can access them. Dr. Issa emphasizes that the success and sustainability of the initiative depend on local community participation. “We need the local people to support us,” she says.
Each fridge serves around 70-100 people daily, with Dr. Issa’s initiative providing food to approximately 1000 people every day. The cost of installing a single fridge varies from ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh, depending on the size and location.
A Glimmer of Hope
Rukmini, a daily wage worker, has been benefiting from Ayyamittu Unn for months. “Ayyamittu Unn has been a blessing for me. I can take food for my family without having to worry about where our next meal will come from. It’s not just about the food; it’s about the dignity it gives us,” she says with tears in her eyes.
Impact Beyond Food
Ayyamittu Unn has not only distributed food but also groceries, clothes, and stationery to needy families and school children in villages around Chennai, Vellore, and Bengaluru. To date, the non-profit has distributed about 87 tonnes of clothes, 2,674 kg of books, 2,819 pairs of shoes, and 2,531 kg of toys.
“We also work during natural calamities and offer relief materials to the affected people,” Dr. Issa adds. People observe her work and come forward to support it, either by providing funds or volunteering.
Growing Together
From its humble beginnings to its current reach, Ayyamittu Unn continues to inspire others to join hands in the fight against hunger and food waste. As Dr. Issa puts it, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
by Anamika Chakravorty: Content Writer | Social Media Influencer | Life Coach | Passionate Storyteller & Empowerment Advocate
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