All posts by Jason Fernandes

04Feb/23

ONCE LIVING ON THE STREETS, THIS GOAN LADY WHO IS MARRIED BUT ABANDONED, HAS THE DETERMINATION TO GO AHEAD AND LEARN COMPUTERS.

4.2.2023. 7Pm. IST 
Once living on the streets,  this Goan lady who is married but abandoned by her husband and rejected by her own family , has the determination to go ahead and learn computers.
A small video attached. 👇👇
There is a big increase in people losing their mind and reaching the streets in the last few years.
Well about 5 months back I received a call from a police station saying ” a goan lady has lost her mind and wandering around, please help “.
We responded and took her in and got her assessed at IPHB and started her treatment.
In the last 4 months good improvement.
From being disoriented when picked up to being back to normal is a big achievement for this goan lady. 
Suffered at the hands of her husband and rejected for being unable to bear children to being disowned by her own brother due to poverty to being unsure where she will sleep at night and where the next meal will come from.
All these troubles of a lonely woman on the streets will surely lead to mental disabilities.
But once in our home , that love & care of our caregivers and staff , coupled with Physiotherapy sessions to ease those pains and troubles, to warm food and a warm bed , to a warm bath daily and change of clothes daily coupled witn timely medications and daily activity in the home.
These all activities above will and have to bring change in any ladies life.
This particular lady is incharge of the kitchen and does her part well .
Quite by nature and responsive to all correction and suggestions.
One day I discussed with Sapnesh why not bring her to office and teach her basic office work.
She was taught how to use the printer and xerox machine which she picked up .
Now I am determined to teach her WORD & EXCEL on the computer.
Problem is her motivation levels are very low due to her being rejected and believes nothing good can come our of her .
But I know she can be taught and she will learn.
Imagine living on a street for years and now sitting on a chair in an office on a computer.
It's not easy for her.
But I am determined to get her taught computers by the office staff. 
The problem is we are 4 staff in the office and only 2 laptops & 1 desktop are available. 
And because she is brought to office, other ladies in our homes too are looking forward to learn computers.
It's just next to impossible to bring so many to office and teach them.
If you reading this post are having any old and usable laptops to give away then we will accept.
We can keep the laptops in the ladies home and get the care givers to teach them Word & excel.
I feel happy and satisfied just sitting and looking at the changes so many people with mental disabilities in our shelter homes are experiencing
It's not something you can buy or get just like that.
It's these homeless  people good wishes and prayers which add up to our spiritual account which makes us believe that we can go beyond our capacity.
WE DARE TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE. 
If you know such goan ladies suffering from mental disabilities and living on the streets, please do reach out and see if they can be assessed at the IPHB hospital bambolim.
If they are really homeless we can attempt to try to rehabilitate them on case to case basis. 
We have mastered the art of rehabilitating people witn all sorts of mental and physical disabilities irrespective of their medical conditions.
It's not an easy service to provide caring for 
150 + people witn disabilities and at times the medications are not cheap.
God bless you so much 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
02Feb/23

A GOAN OFFICER SAVES OUR NGO Rs 432000 A YEAR BY SIGNING OUR APPLICATION FORMS FOR ACQUIRING AN ADHAAR CARD FOR THE HOMELESS PEOPLE

2.2.2023. 7pm IST 
A Goan officer saves our NGO Rs 432000 a year by signing our application forms for acquiring an Adhar Card for the homeless people suffering from disabilities. 
The homeless with Disabilities at times are without any identity proof and the only recognized identity proof is an ADHAR CARD . 
At our function held on 30.1.2023 on the release of our book and the felicitation of Bosco George IPS on his retirement by the homeless, we had also invited Mr NOEL FERNANDES,  officer,  Dept of Planning & Statistics,  Porvorim who is also a person with physical disability. 
Who and why was he invited ? 
Well getting an identity document for the homeless with Disabilities is necessary but a big pain in the neck . 
Believe me two years back when I started to make the 1st adhar card for the homeless I almost ended up abusing the asst director in that office and I even tore up the forms and threw them in the dustbin in their office and walked out. 
That Asst Director just refused to understand and give me any sympathy to my plea . 
Later on the Asst Director ended up being our benefactor . 
This is the most complicated process with regards to getting an ADHAR CARD for any homeless : 
◇ 1. A form has to be filled systematically and properly ( which I never knew )
◇ 2. Then that form has to be signed by a gazette officer ( where will you get some one to sign a form of a homeless)
◇ 3. Then the homeless has to be taken to an Adhar centre for finger printing & eye identification process. 
◇ 4. Some phone no to be entered. 
◇ 5. At times the homeless can't  even put their fingers on the machine nor can they get their eyes scanned 
◇ 6. System hangs due to connectivity or these homeless people shake or fiddle around.
◇ 7. After few days the adhar card has to be downloaded
Believe me those two years back all this was a nightmare and we were experiencing the 1st wave of Covid 19. 
The worst set back was getting a GAZETTED officer to sign so many application forms of the homeless with Disabilities. 
But NOEL FERNANDES who is from SALIGAO stepped in and put his signature where it mattered the most . 
Listen to his 1 min video 👇👇
Rest of his speech can be heard on this link 👇
I knocked on many many gazette officers doors. 
All gave me big yarns and excuses. 
And I don't hold any hurts against those gazette officers. 
Today after two years of struggle and support from NOEL FERNANDES, we have managed to create new adhar cards for 70 such homeless people plus we were able to print out another 20 Adhar cards as these homeless were already registered in the system but due to living on the streets their documents were missing. 
Kindly note : we only make adhar cards of the homeless with Disabilities and not of the Beggars and drunkards who will run away from the homes after a few days of rehabilitation. 
With all these adhar cards generated we were able to acquire their Disability Certifcate & UDID Cards as well as apply for various Government grants both from Social Welfare & 
Women and Child Dept . 
But the biggest benefit NOEL FERNANDES contributed to our NGO by signing our application form is we are saving more than
Rs 36000 a month or Rs 432000 a year on a particular commodity which I was informed today has been approved by The Government. 
And this commodity requires an ADHAR CARD . 
For 5 years we paid extrra Rs 2160000 because we did not have any adhar cards of these homeless people. 
( I will be uploading a post once I get that order as to how we got this huge discount & there again is another Goan officer who stepped in and made things happen very quickly ) 
Today and till Noel is working at his desk, that satisfaction and peace will bring happiness and tears to him. 
To me , Noel is one of the most sincere and honest officers I have ever come across in all the Government offices I move around. 
Non corrupt and down to earth but very strict and follows the rules meticulously. 
No time wasting and no petty talks and will not give you a cup of tea when u go to his office. 
Any one in NOEL Seat can and would and will definitely made huge amount of wealth under the table for generating adhar card, birth & death Certifcate,  correction of names , etc. 
But NOEL is a class apart . Honest to the core. 
I can actually smell a corrupt and un cooperative officer in my many years of roaming around in all government offices. 
But God through his Grace has always inspired me to go to the best officer in each department and get my work done for the homeless and street people and also God has inspired those chosen officers in each department to listen to my requests and do my work quickly , efficiently and without any bribe or time wasting. 
As I write this post I have a few tears in my eyes ( basically I am not an emotional person but I know the trouble I went through those years getting the freaking paper work organized for these homeless people with disabilities ). 
But thanks to NOEL FERNANDES all the frustrations, irritations , endless forms we filled and re filled, all those adhar camps we conducted with the help of Mr LEVIN who poor fellow tolerated the homeless today has reaped a big harvest in the lives of so many homeless people with disabilities . 
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 /7020314848
01Feb/23

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT , GOVERNMENT OF GOA SPEAKS HER HEART OUT ABOUT OUR NGO

1.2.2023. 7pm IST 
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT , GOVERNMENT OF GOA speaks her heart out about our NGO & her Department plans for the homeless & people with disabilites.
Short 3 min video attached. 👇👇
At the recently held function om 30.1.2023 where our 150 homeless street people most of them suffering from severe disabilities felicitated Bosco George IPS on his retirement,  there was also present top government officials :
◇ 1. Director of Women & Child 
◇ 2. Director of Social Welfare &
◇ 3. Asst Director of Social Welfar
Why were they invited?
Well these two departments are the source of funding and grants from the Government and what better place and occassion for the THESE TOP OFFICIALS to actually see  the different types of people we rehabilitate , with their own eyes , all under one roof and also interact with them.
Its not possible for a Small NGO like ours to get such top officials togther on a MONDAY,  but they accepted and came on time .
The blessed part was Mrs Kamat , Director of Social Welfare, who has just taken over this Department, has a heart to help the homeless with disabilites. 
A complicated Department to most of the NGOs but to STREET PROVIDENCE the best Department as there is a superb combination especially between Director & Asst Director. 
Infact I have had a fight and argument with both of them on the 1st day of me meeting both of them.
I had a tiff with Asst Director somewhere in early July 22 and with Director in early October 22 in her office with her top officials. 
But to top it all, the Social Welfare Minister is a simple humble man who 12 years back was doing similar work to our NGO and understands the trouble an NGO like ours go through daily rehabilitating homeless with disabilites. 
So when the top brass of a Department supports an NGO based on the ground work happening, it gives an NGO a lot of encouragement to keep adding more projects 
But here is what one needs to understand. 
Our NGO is actually doing the most difficult work of rehabilitating the homeless with disabilites and the Department was not showin any interest..
My frustration, anger and disappointment is that the Department was doing nothing which they should have done and supported us .
But that is what the Entire Department of Social Welfare is doing NOW.
Recognizing our work and supporting 100 % .
We have opened their eyes and changed their thinking that STREET PROVIDENCE is asking for grants which is due to us .
No one is doing anyone a favour. 
We are all here doing a SERVICE to the homeless with disabilites. 
It's the thinking.
Most think that NGOs are only on paper.
Most NGOs think government officials are corrupt 
Most government officials think NGOs are only collecting donations.
For me , i  go to any Government dept with one thing on my mind ” I will get the job done by highlighting the work our NGO does “.
Of Course God too plays his part by inspiring the government officials to move. 
But its more of the hard work our NGO does daily on the ground non stop last 5 years .
One needs to have clear vision and goals and work tirelessly towards achieving those goals whether government is recognizing or not .
Good work will always get you the rewards with the Grace of God .
We thank the Director in advance for creating a new grant to support the homeless with mental disabilities.
We are all pumped up to accept more homeless people with disabilities into our homes. 
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
30Jan/23

TODAY RELEASED OUR BOOK ( and e book ) ON THE OCCASION OF OUR NGO COMPLETING 5 YEARS IN SERVICE OF THE HOMELESS

30.1.2023. 7pm IST 
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA today released our Book 
( and e book ) on the occsssion of our NGO completing 5 years in service of the homeless at the hands of Mr Bosco George IPS officer .
Link attached 👇
Also attaching the book in PDF format. 
Also today our  150 + homeless people suffering from Disabilities gave a touching farewell to Goa's most loved cop Mr Bosco George, IPS on his retirement from Goa Police .
Two videos attached :👇👇
One is of The homeless welcoming him &
One of Bosco sir wishing then while going out.
Today is  Bosco George birthday & wedding anniversary and I am sure this was the most memorable occassion for sir Bosco George .
The book has been designed and put togther by our IN HOUSE TEAM, @ Street Providence by 
my brother in law Mr John Pinto &
my sister & trustee Mrs Joanita Pinto and the Cover design – has been designed by my niece , Miss Raelene Vaz.
♡♡♡ Special thanks to :
☆ 1. Mr Bosco George IPS, for the fore word 
☆ 2. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao @ Archdiocese Goa
☆ 3. Auxiliary Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas @ Ranchi Diocese 
☆ 4. Mrs Deepali Naik , Director of Women & Child @ Government of Goa 
for their messages pledging their support to the NGO in this book.
Cardinal message is very encouraging and motivating as its straight from his heart. 
♡♡♡ Also a big thanks to those who attended today:
☆ 1. Mrs Deepali Naik , Director WCD
☆?2. Mrs Sandhya Kamat , Director Social Welfare
☆ 3. Mr Noel Fernandes, Planing & Statistics 
☆ 4. Adv Caroline Collaso,  our Trustee 
☆ 5. Prof Pai , Retired professor,  Goa University 
☆ 6. Adv Mr Shailesh Gawas , Social Worker 
☆ 7. Sr Edith Dantes , Fatima Convent , Guirim
☆ 8. Mrs Pradnya Marathe,  Ast Dir , S.Welfare 
It has not been easy getting from all our homes all the 150 homeless people,  witn almost 10 of them on wheel chairs and 8 of them on cluthes.
And 80% are on psychiatric medication and require constant monitoring.
We had to Hire 4 big buses to transport all of them.
I am happy that both the Directors ie 
Wonen & Child and Social Welfare, accepted the invitation at short notice , attended the function well before time and saw  with their eyes and understood the trouble our NGO goes through daily rehabilitating these homeless people of which 70% are goans .
♡♡  Thanks to Fr Henry , Director of Cruz de Milagris for allowing us the usage of the Hall and for alot of services that comes along with the hall .
We paid a small fee for hiring the premises but superb facilities especially since most of the homeless are old and suffering from disabilities.
♡♡  Thanks to our Operation manager Mr Sapnesh Salgaonkar and his boys for taking all the trouble in arranging the decorations,  busses,  facilitating the transportation of these 150 homeless people suffering from Disabilities.
This is just part 1 of the book launch .
We will be uploading 2 more parts with videos of the function held today .
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
27Jan/23

TODAY SHOWS YOU HOW OUR VOLUNTEERS FEED BREAKFAST IN VILLAGES TO OUR OWN LOCAL PEOPLE EVERY MORNING.

27.1.2023. 7Pm IST
FOOD BANK FOR THE POOR SANGOLDA GOA today shows you how our volunteers feed breakfast in Villages to our own local people every morning.
In my Parish of Guirim – Sangolda for over a year every morning free fresh breakfast is distributed to Poor goan people by Lawrence & his team .
Attached a small video and and a picture 👇👇
Beneficiaries varies dally between 100 -125 and it happens in 2 places in Guirim village & 1 place in Sangolda village .
3 feeding points daily 7.30 am to 8 am .
We have combinations of :
☆ Paratha 3 days a week 
☆ Bread 3 days a week 
With :
☆ Egg 2 days a week 
☆ Banana 2 days a week 
☆ Jam & butter chiplets 2 days a week 
Most of the beneficiaries are verified as the feeding is at village level and everyone knows everyone. 
At times these same beneficiaries are provided hot and nutritious food in the afternoon or late evening which we get through our Food Bank program where daily we accept close to 500 kgs of good cooked food which otherwise would be wasted. 
None of our volunteers or our team look at this as a FAVOUR bur rather we see it as a SERVICE to humanity.
In today world where food costs are rising , poor & old goans , elderly parents with no support from children,  single mothers, widows , labour class , etc are all given a meal at these feeding points at Guirim – Sangolda.
Serving looks easy but then :
◇ 1. Parathas & bread has to procured fresh before 7.30 am
◇ 2. Eggs and bananas are procured the previous day from the city 
◇ 3. Jam & butter chiplets are needed to be stored in a fridge and ordered in advance. 
Lots of planning & logistics go into organizing this feeding as it happens in 3 places but sourcing and storage is at one place. 
It's these little services which we provide to many poor and needy people through our various programs @ Street Providence across Goa and that Blessings & satisfaction we get is much more than what we try to search and get through many worldly ways.
Lawrence and the other team members are senior citizens or family people and to get up every morning and provide this service is not easy and it's happening over a year .
Each meal costs rs 20 only. 
If you are celebrating any function then please also sponsor such meals as part of your celebration.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
26Jan/23

WISHES AND BLESSES MR. VISHRAM BORKAR , SP @ GOA POLICE, ON HE BEING CONFERRED THE PRESTIGOUS PRESIDENT POLICE MEDAL

26.1.2023. 5pm IST 
🇮🇳A Very Happy Republic day today to one and all.🇮🇳
On this wonderful day , Street Providence Goa and all their inmates wishes and blesses 
Mr Vishram Borkar , SP @ Goa Police,  on he being conferred THE PRESTIGOUS PRESIDENT POLICE MEDAL today. 
For those wondering let me explain.
Last year , we intended to install a food bank fridge at The Raj Bhavan , Dona Paula.
Mr BORKAR , is the ADC ( aide-de-camp ) to The Honourable Governor of Goa. 
THE ADC is also incharge of the Security of the Governor.
Since we are not politically connected, I had  approached an IPS officer who got me in touch with Mr Borkar .
Mr Borkar is A GENTLEMAN to the core. 
Mr Borkar gave me an appointment, heard me out regarding the food bank fridge at the Raj Bhavan but shot down the idea due to serious security reasons which I accepted. 
But he ( and the then secretary) came up with another suggestion ” The Raj Bhavan donating 100 freshly cooked meals every week to our food bank program “.
The Governor too liked the suggestion and it's close to a year ” we as the food bank get 100 freshly cooked meals every week from The Governor house “.
No where in INDIA , will you come across any Raj Bhavan donating freshly cooked meals to feed the poor to a registered FOOD BANK.
And we are proud to be that FOOD BANK receiving food weekly from THE RAJ BHAVAN. 
In our line of Service to the poorest of the through our NGO, I have discovered that God has planted some important official in our lives to get that extra work done and Mr BORKAR is one of them.
That day after the meeting, or even before the meeting, knowing there is a security issue, he could have just sent me away as he never ever met me before and neither was he obligated to the IPS officer who sent me to meet him .
But he did not do that. 
Well for those who know Mr BORKAR personally will vouch for his simple nature,  humble background & his down to earth and easy to get along attitude.
Mr Vishram Borkar understands hunger, homelessness & those people suffering from disabilities and that makes him a UNIQUE  person who always remembers his past and his simple village life style in SHIRODA village .
I have come across a few high ranking government officials who just refuse to even listen to genuine requests as they themselves have lived a life of poverty and just because of Power they refuse to look back in their own lives.
These officials just don't want to go back to their childhood life of poverty but rather they prefer to wear the Power on their sleeves. 
Power is never permanent which quite a few both Government officials & politicians should understand. 
Mr Borkar has the prayers and blessings from our homeless street people for his understanding of the words HUNGER & homelessness. 
We are assured that in the coming years of his service @ GOA POLICE,  Mr Borkar support and commitment towards the homeless and the people with Disabilities on the streets of Goa will be much more than today. 
Once again A Wonderful occassion on INDIAs Republic day to get an award by Mr Vishram Borkar ie THE PRESTIGOUS PRESIDENT POLICE MEDAL.
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
838097564 / 7020314848
24Jan/23

THANKS, OUR COMMITTED AND COMPASSIONATE VOLUNTEER, MR. PAI, WHO IS RETIRED PROFESSOR FROM GOA UNIVERSITY

24.1.2023. 7pm IST 
RETIRED PROF FROM GOA UNIVERSITY, PROF MR. PAI has been serving breakfast daily last 3 years outside the hospital at  GMC & IPHB , Bambolim. 
FOOD BANK FOR THE POOR SANGOLDA SANGOLDA GOA, thanks our committed and compassionate volunteer,  Mr Pai, who is  retired Professor from 
Goa University who inspite of being a senior citizen yet with zeal and enthusiasm of a teenager has been standing daily 7.30 am to 8.45 am outside the Hospitals in all weathers. 
It's not easy to get up every morning for the last 3 years and start his own car and be present at 7.30 am outside IPHB BAMBOLIM in all weathers. 
Then at 8.15 am to 8.45 am outside GMC hospital. 
Prof Pai has even served during the entire covid waves both 1 & 2 breakfast all by himself. 
I remember covid 19 , 1st wave he even served dinner at night all alone. 
We provide him the meals and the serving is done by him. 
Never complains and seldom takes a holiday 
( Sunday is a day of rest so holiday ). 
One of those Jolly old men who has that ability to smile and make you smile even if you don't want to smile. 
Low profile, simple in nature, easy to get along , respects all faiths , non controversial, has a passion to feed the poor and the homeless & committed to the core . 
That's our Volunteer , Ret Prof Mr Pai . 
Carries in his car a nutritious hot breakfast enough for 100 People daily which costs our NGO Rs 20 per meal . 
Every month we spend about Rs 50000 on this free service which is almost 3 years to date 
You won't read of such committed service in the newspapers as not many press people Want to get up at 7am and cover such selfless service to the poor and hungry . 
Once again @ FOOD BANK FOR THE POOR SANGOLDA GOA,  daily approx close to 1500 meals are served across different parts of Goa through our staff & volunteers. 
You can always celebrate your special function:
☆ Birthday 
☆ Wedding anniversaries 
☆ In memory of a loved one 
☆ Your promotion 
Etc 
by contributing towards our food bank program of feeding the poor and the homeless. 
All what I wrote can be verified by simply catching up every morning 7.30 am outside the IPHB Hospital Bambolim. 
Please don't use short cut and ask me for
PROF PAI cell no, but rather pay him a visit and encourage him to keep doing the good service of feeding the hungry and the needy 
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
22Jan/23

RESCUES AND GETS OF THE STREETS OF MIRAMAR, GOA THIS HIGHLY CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA GOAN MAN

22.1.2023. 8pm IST 
STREET PROVIDENCE GOA Goa rescues and gets of the streets of MIRAMAR, GOA this highly CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA Goan man who has been sleeping in the garden at MIRAMAR last many weeks in this chill and cold weather in unclean and unhealthy living conditions. 
One can zoom in the COLLAGE and see how difficult it has been for us and him . 
Miserable, agony for him , hungry , in the cold, Lonely, unclean and unwanted. 
But that will change if we can control him in the future which is a challenge. 
With holding his name as he has family in Caranzalem who wants him to stay at home but this goan man is just refusing to take medication and ends up on the streets. 
Saturday early morning a elderly goan lady disturbed my morning sleep as she had got my no from a friend and requested to help this goan man who she felt pity for as he has been sleeping, roaming and living in the garden right op Hotel Fortune, Miramar . 
Always searching for food but very very unclean & bad odour. 
Within 2 hours we sent our Ambulance and our team and took the assistance of Panjim Police Station. 
Man turned violent and aggressive and almost was getting physical and about 4 men had to physically get him into the Ambulance. 
Extremely unclean & smelling . 
Taken to IPHB, who as usual were very 
co operative and understanding and our team member Douglas signed and admitted him on the condition once ready for discharge, our NGO will take him to our home for rehabilitation. 
He later even told his brother name and cell no and his brother reached the IPHB and explained to the Doctor and to our team the medical condition of his brother from 1992 . 
Yesterday, ie Saturday we had 6 such cases to handle including this one . 
The no of cases of mental disabilites are rising & rising very fast and I am scared and unsure how we are going to accommodate so many requests 
If we refuse, letters are written to :
Superintendent of Police ,
Disability Commissioner 
and it says ” STREET PROVIDENCE is not accepting ” or ” has sent back “. 
Then EDUCATED ADVOCATES & so called SOCIAL WORKERS call and try to just force me to take in such cases as if they are funding us or the government is funding us fully. 
I am not obligated to admit each and every request as at times some are either difficult to handle or some have families and that's their issue to sort out . 
Besides our current men's homes are practically over loaded with men & water issues has started which makes it even more difficult. 
The Government of Goa is supporting us partly  but that is not enough as we are shortly going to be touching at 200 inmates  suffering with disabilites of which 90 % are free of cost. 
Everything is rising in Goa like water. Electricity, inflation, monthly expenses and with this the no of inmates and the requests to take in more are also rising. 
We require bigger homes, more staff, more vehicles, more blessings to meet the ever increasing bills and we require it quickly else we just will not be able to take in so many such requests and they will ultimately end up :
On the streets 
In IPHB
Or in the JAIL once they go out of control. 
We are trying our level to help each and every one who comes to our office or who contacts me, but a time will come we might have to say NO. 
God bless you all 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 /7020314848
21Jan/23

ACCEPTS, RECEIVES & SAVES CLOSE TO 600 KGS OF GOOD PACKAGED FOOD WHICH OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE REACHED THE GARBAGE DUMPS.

21.1.2023. 7pm.IST 
FOOD BANK FOR THE POOR SANGOLDA GOA , accepts,  receives & saves close to 600 kgs of good packaged food which otherwise would have reached the garbage dumps. 
These are samples of Atta , healthy fruit spread & amla drink which are in date and were to be sent back to the company which ultimately would have expired and thrown into the garbage dumps. 
The distributor was alert to call me & request me to use this for the poor and needy in our homes and to be Given ahead through our food banks. 
600 kgs of such good packaged food is too much for our shelter homes and we require only 100 kgs in Total all sent in sacks and boxes. 
Rest we started giving away to various Poor families who we have been supporting through our dry ration monthly program across Goa and through our volunteers who feed fresh food through our food bank fridges. 
The SAD part is daily in GOA , thousand KGS of such packaged food stuff is destroyed through FMCG distributors & wholesalers as that's the system prevailing last so many years. 
Can you imagine how good packaged food is just destroyed and thrown out when so many poor hungry people can benefit. 
The FSSAI / FDA is the implementing authority under SAVE FOOD , FEED FOOD campaign to see that packaged food just like fresh food is routed through food banks to feed the poor . 
But who cares and who is bothered ? 
This is the reason INDIA HUNGER INDEX is going from bad to worse and the garbage dumps are rising. 
And I am not sure how people FREAKING SLEEP at night especially those connected to the FMCG distribution when such packaged food is left to expire on the shelves of supermarkets and shops and then brought back after expiry and destroyed. 
If we as INDIANS need to drop our HUNGER INDEX , it has to start at the ground level and this one source is FMCG  distribution & wholesalers. 
We need to understand that a huge population of our country is poor, undernourished, struggling to meet to get two meals a day . 
I am just back from JHARKAND and I know what is hunger & poverty in real true meaning. 
Goa is way way ahead in nutrition. 
I can say GOA is the food capital of INDIA. 
Let's all pledge to be part of attempting to save food first in our homes and thinking and working towards feeding those hungry and undernourished. 
I thank Mr Prakash from Mapusa ( originally from Ratnagiri )  who last many years has been consistently sending our food bank many such different types of good food from the distribution business he does rather than throwing it out into the garbage  
And I can say with CONFIDENCE, Mr Prakash business in the last 4 years has doubled and he is very focused on seeing that food is not destroyed but given to the poor & hungry in Goa. 
Those in the FMCG business in Goa should take a leaf from Mr Prakash and attempt to avoid such good packaged food from reaching the garbage dumps. 
God bless you so much
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848
20Jan/23

A fully Automatic Chapati machine

20.1.2023. 7pm IST 
A fully Automatic Chapati machine costing Rs 9 lacs at todays rate,
manufacturing 900 Chapati per hour installed @ Colvale Jail. 
Attached a 22 sec video so that you can see how this machine works 👇👇
Street Providence Prisoners Welfare has been started to serve the Welfare of the Prisoners. 
Late Dec 2022 , Street Providence Prisoners Welfare, installed a commercial Water Dispenser cum water purifier Worth Rs 50000, on the eve of Christmas. 
This water Dispenser bill was taken care by a benefactor Mr Kirit Maganlal owner of MAGSONS 
Early Jan 2023, our NGO donated this automatic machine to the Jail as there was a need for such a machine. 
This auto matic machine was purchased by a leading bakery in 2019 , but was never used due to genuine reasons and I was aware of the same. 
The owner was kind enough to give away this machine at a very heavy discount for a worthy Cause plus alot of spares and accessories worth a few lacs . 
This automatic Chapati machine has a cost , of which a kind lady benefactor has donated 
Rs 1 lac. 
We still have to get another Rs 1 lac to close this bill. 
Last 7 days trials have been going in the Jail and the results are satisfying @ 900 Chapati / hour . 
Capacity is actually 1000 ,Chapati/ Hour but gradually within the next 15 ,days this machine will deliver 1000 Chapati / hour. 
I know there will be few wondering why is the NGO giving away such equipments to the Jail when we ourselves are asking for donations ? 
Well there are always benefactors who have their mind to help different sections of society and they reading my messages get motivated to donate for a cause which helps our NGO to raise resources. 
I run 8 rehabilitation homes for the homeless and I seen how much facilities I provide to these homeless people including good healthy food and filtered drinking water in all our 8 homes . 
A jail is not as good as a rehabilitation home and I always wanted to do something for the Prisoners. 
And these two machines are connected to the Prisoners Welfare – FOOD & DRINKING WATER . 
Our NGO has planned many many Welfare programs for the Prisoners in this new year . 
For those who don't agree to my thinking of working for the Welfare of the Prisoners,  please excuse,  no offense and no hard feelings. 
For those who wish to be part of STREET PROVIDENCE PRISONERS WELFARE program in the coming year , either as a volunteer or a benefactor,  please get in touch with me through whatsapp on 8380097564. 
I always like to give back to Society especially 
” THE LAST & THE LOST “. 
Incase you are able to support this cause of this Automatic Chapati machine installed at Colvale Jail please do the needful. 
We operate strictly through whstsapp messages 
on 8380097564  so please avoid calling. 
God bless you so much 
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564 / 7020314848