Monday, April 6, 2020

Win Win Situation

I was meaning to write this blog post 6 months ago. But could not do so for some reason or other. I think now is the appropriate time.
 
There are a few pizza shops in Philadelphia. Many customers visiting those shops pay for a slice of pizza (I think it is $1 for each slice) and leave the receipt on the wall. Any person who doesn’t have money and hungry can take this pre-paid pizza receipt from the wall and buy pizza to eat from that shop.
 
 
This has become so popular among the customers, there are now more pre-paid receipts (approximately 70,000) than the demand in those pizza shops.
 
I was really moved and impressed.
 
Since then I was thinking this idea can be implemented in India. Indians are equally generous and compassionate. Very timely now because after the coronavirus ‘stay-at-home’ order is lifted there will be quite a few hungry unemployed persons without money. People who can afford can prepay for food and leave the receipt in a wall in that hotel (restaurant). They don’t have to do it every day. Once in a while is enough. If many people do this once in a while, that would be lot.
 
I am not talking about 5 star restaurants where it cost lot of money. I am talking about run of the mill hotels (restaurants), mess, and street food places. A nominal amount, say Rs.50, is enough. This is just a guess.  I have no idea how much it would cost.
 
This will be a win win situation for all. The establishment owners have the money paid in full on hand even before they make the food. The person who paid for the food will have the satisfaction of helping the community impacted by this world/national emergency. The poor hungry person gets to eat.
 
If I were in India I would contact a few hotels (restaurants) and start this program. Unfortunately, I am not there. Any of you readers or your friends active in social media can organize a project to implement this worthy cause.

PS:  The above is only a general idea.  People familiar with the local custom and behavior can device their own way how to distribute the donor receipts.

19 comments:

  1. This is a really good idea. As you said, all the more relevant now.
    On my part, I shall share this post in my social network; and also alert some of my friends, who might be able to take this forward.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Pradeep. Wish you and your friends all success in this effort.

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  2. This is a good idea SG. But in India there are chances People might take advantage of this situation and get away without paying money even if they can. They should do something like deliver the food to the homeless people
    like the guy in following story
    https://gimundo.com/news/article/narayanan-krishnan-serves-over-1-million-meals-to-indias-homeless/

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    1. Thanks for your comments Dee. I saw the video you sent. Mr. Krishnan is doing a great service to humanity. Only very few people like him have the means and time to cook the food, transport it and deliver to homeless people. Ordinary people like you and I have busy life of our own – work, family – and cannot do the cooking, transporting and delivering.

      I don’t know about other States in India. In Tamil Nadu, majority of the people eat at least one meal daily in a restaurant/hotel. This way of paying for a meal in a restaurant and leaving the receipt for poor people to use can be easily accomplished.

      Even if 25% of the people cheat and take advantage, rest of the 75% will be benefitted. As days go by, these 25% will realize what they are doing is wrong.

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  3. Actually I cried reading this
    What a beautiful idea you have brought in front of our eyes . Worth sharing and I am doing it right now . Thank you and stay safe.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Shilpa. Thanks for sharing this info with your friends/relatives. If you share with 10 people, and they in turn share with 10 of their friends/relatives, soon it will spread to thousands of people and poor people will be benefitted. A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step.

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  4. This is very relevant for the day and has come not a day soon.But I am wondering how this would work in our country.It would need some modification.The poor, if they have money, eat from roadside eateries or amma unavagams.If you stick on the wall as your picture shows ,someone or a few will filch them all in no time. We should trust the eateries or small restaurants with these donor receipts to supply the poor free as long as the receipts last.In a few days the poor would know where they can get free.We distribute bread every Sunday at church nearby where very poor assemble for alms.Everyone can device their own way to give succour to the needy..

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    1. Thanks for your comments Mr.KP. I was only giving a general idea and not a modus operandi. People familiar with the local custom and behavior can device their own way how to distribute the donor receipts.

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  5. In India, waiters, managers and even hotel owners would consider this as free money and hide those receipts to pocket the money. Here, we have been conditioned to help the needy directly, otherwise only a fraction might ever reach them.

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Thanks for your comments Rajesh. As I wrote, it was only a general idea. People familiar with the local custom and behavior can device their own way how to distribute the donor receipts.

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  6. A fabulous idea. This is like Pay it Forward. My sister used to volunteer for a Seva Cafe where people pay it forward for those who dine after them!

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  7. It's a brilliant idea! I am inpired. If people really want to be kind, they find ways!

    I just remembered, a non profitable book organization is doing something similar to fulfil the hunger of reading. It's Pratham Books, publishers of wonderful children books, who allows to donate library for the needy schools. If one can't donate a library, they can donate atleast ₹10 while buying books.

    As many of them have suspected, if someone executes this idea, they must be vigilant to see if helps the needy. I'm happy, many NGOs including Rashtriya Swayam Sevaka Sangha, are busy preparing and serving food for the needy in India.

    This idea would motivate people to do something revolutionary. Thanks so much for inspiring. Sharing this article.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sindhu. This idea is for individuals to do something for their society.

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  8. Excellent idea. I will popularise this in social media and I will do my part

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    1. Thanks for your comments Gowri. I am glad you are into it.

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  9. A novel,useful, helpful idea.If it gets implemented many a hungry man can quench his hunger. Of course a few will take advantage-affordable ones may pay frequent visits.If all the affordable restaurants do this, only needy will turn up for food. I shall be talking to people within my acquaintance.

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  10. Amazing idea, SG! I like the term win-win, and it's great to read your post on such a scenario. Hope it can be implemented here in India soon.

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