Category Archives: Updates

09May/25

THE BEST WAY TO BEST MENTAL DISABILITIES IS AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES & LIVESTOCK FARMING.

Updates
7.5.2025  4pm IST
The best way to beat mental disabilities is Agricultural activities & Livestock farming.
We have hard core proof with documented evidence. So read slowly.
And this is going to be our next big project in GOA.
The man in this picture Mr Bahadur who was on the streets of Panjim exactly 4 years back in horrible & terrible conditions.
Alcohol, tobacco, etc drained him of his strength making him loose control over his bowel movements and lived on the streets.
IPHB administered him psychiatric medication.
Slowly he was given physiotherapy which took about 6 months to get his confidence back & started walking by himself although first 2 months he was on a wheel chair.
Bahadur developed a feeling for dogs , chickens , goats ie live stock and agriculture.
About 7 years back we started rearing local chickens & my wife and younger 2 children developed a snack of hatching young chicks.
3 years back I started rearing a pair of goats and 
we took time to taste success.
About 3 years back Bahadur to be kept occupied would daily be brought to my house to keep him going as he can't sit quietly.
See God's plan – 3 years back we got our goats & 3 years back Bahadur was back on his feat.
☆☆☆ BAHADUR is a HERDSMAN & A MAN WITH GREEN FINGERS. Which I never knew when I picked him up myself. 

Win win situation.

Slowly he took over caring for my dogs , my cat , our numerous chickens , our pair of goats , our fishes in the pond and started growing plants and fruit bearing trees.
His ability to get off alcohol & tobacco automatically reduced his  psychiatric medication which ultimately stopped and he was back to his physical strength.
Today because of BAHADUR , last 5 months we are able to drink goats milk as our goat delivered a baby and Bahadur was the mid wife .
He exactly knew when the baby will be born and when the baby was born he was there cleaning the blood and other stuff right in front of our eyes
I always wanted to grow a vegetable garden and last few months Bahadur has been preparing the soil.
He crushed the dropping of the goats made it powder and dried it completely.
Daily the extra grass of the goats whixh is not consumed is dried & then he burns and collects ash.
This ash, dropping of the goats and dried cow dung he mixed up and sprinkled in the soil where we grew our small vegetable garden. 
Within 1 month flat in this summer heat the vegetable is growing very fast and one thing is he waters it faithfully.
Lush green garden in this scorching heat.
Today my family eats local grown eggs and drink goats milk along with local vegetable and fruits like papaya and bananas which Bahadur grows in our compound.
Bahadur named in his language all my dogs , the cat , all the chickens, the goats a separate name
Like I said at the start ” to beat mental disabilities one requires to do Livestock farming & agriculture and today BAHADUR is totally without any psychiatric medication”.
Our biggest set back in our 11 shelter homes in Goa is ” we don't have any excess land to implement this goat rearing, chicken breeding and agriculture as all our Homes are rented and water is an issue “.
But very soon our NGO will be replicating this model through poor families in rural Goa who are having family members suffering from disabilities as well as rural widows.
We will be providing Free Livestock to both the above section of society & we will buy back the produce to sustain the project.
To cut mental disabilities – live stock farming & agriculture activities is the fastest and the best way.
Even old aged or people living alone, a little of live stock & small agriculture is one of the best ways to keep mental health under control along with one being active.
The good news is Minister of Animal husbandry department,  Government of Goa has understood this need of the hour and we are expecting to get this project up and running very soon.
Who would ever imagined that this old unclean man Mr Bahadur about 4 years back would teach me practically about live stock & agricultural activities and today I have a full proof model directly connected to reducing mental disabilities along with livelihood opportunities.
I would like to repeat ” the good you do to others will always come back to you and your family”.
Writing such testimonies is easier said than actually caring for such homeless people in our homes and too many are there on the streets of Goa waiting for a chance to start life again.
All our Homes are overcrowded and without more homes we are not able to take in more homeless people.
All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380087564
God bless you all
Donald Fernandes 
8380097564/ 7020314848
05May/25

Food Bank for the Poor, Sangolda, Goa has been feeding right from 1.4.2020 cooked pre packed food till 20.4.2020

Updates

21.4.2020 10 AM IST

Food Bank for the Poor , Sangolda, Goa has been feeding right from 1.4.2020 cooked pre packed food till 20.4.2020, by purchasing at a very discounted rate from NAVTARA , some meals we are cooking in our homes and some meals was given free by GIVE FOR GOA.

We @ STREET PROVIDENCE thank the owner Mr Carlos & his son ADITYA for the support, credit, quality and patience.

Also thanks to GIVE FOR GOA for supporting us, for the last 20 days daily to feed 200 meals in SOUTH GOA with piping hot cooked food.

We intend to go on feeding on the streets and villages of GOA, till 31.5.2020 but your support is required.

Attached a 4 min video of few of our volunteers which have been silently feeding daily across GOA close to 700 meals.

Rest 300 meals are for our homes where our homeless street people are rehabilitated.

Some volunteers are in the video, some we could not add in the video, but the message is clear
“WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS, FOOD BANK WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FEED”
700 meals to 1000 meals daily across Goa.

I thank all these selfless volunteers who have been feeding without fail from 1.4.2020 till 20.4.2020

  1. Succor @ Siolim
  2. Sapnesh @ khorlim
  3. Adv. Caroline @ Assagao, Thivim, etc.
  4. Vijay @ Saligao, Calangute, Arpora
  5. Cecilia @ Panjim
  6. Samarth @ San jose de Areal
  7. Edward @ Mapusa bus stop
  8. Elaine @ Velim
  9. Sophie @ Margao
  10. Roy @ Margao
  11. Arch Denzil @ Margao
  12. Furtado @ Senarbatim
  13. Orlando @ Colva
  14. SDPO @ Porvorim police station

For the next 2 days , we will re strategize and decide how best to go on feeding till 31.5.2020 on the streets as we need to stretch our resources and cut our costs as we might need to even stretch beyond 31.5.2020 depending on the ground reality .

Your support is required in prayers, wishes & blessing.

We are a registered NGO, and we offer income tax exemption under 80 G on your donations.

We operate only through WhatsApp on 8380097564.

God bless you all
Donald Fernandes
8380097564

    05May/25

    OVER 12 YEARS THIS SAME LADY DUE TO MENTAL DISABILITIES LIVED ON STREETS, SLEPT UNDER TREES AND ON FOOTPATHS  

    Updates
    28.11.2024. 8pm IST
    This goan lady now lives in a home, sleeps on a bed , sits on a chair and eats meals on a table; has a bath daily, changes her clothes daily, replies to questions when asked.
    So what's the big deal ?
    Well for over 12 years this same lady due to mental disabilities lived on streets, slept under trees and on footpaths , ate food from unhygienc places, always wore only 1 red saree, no table manners & totally aggressive and disoriented.
    But with 18 months of rehabilitation, medication, care , monthly follow ups and blood tests , today she is much cooler , calmer and oriented but has may be early stages of Parkinsons.

    That's what STREET PROVIDENCE homes are all about.  
    DARE TO DREAM the impossible.
    Image the hurts , insults, abuse, loneliness she went through for 12 long years where I assume her emotions took a hit very badly.
    Only solution is shelter homes/ half way homes/ mid way homes.
    If not brought to us by Goa Police today this lady would have still been on the streets or would be Permanently locked up in the mental hospital.
    ☆ Her only fault : poverty and death of her husband many years back which made her loose her peace of mind.
    ☆ Result : today she can't be left by herself as she has to be monitored and given her daily psychiatric medication.
    ☆ Future : Hon CM needs to understand that there are many Goan ladies like her turning up homeless on the streets due to mental disabilities.
    ☆ Need of the hour : state government needs to address this issue on a war footing.
    ◇◇◇ We request you to come forward and provide help to women on the streets suffering from mental disabilities by complaining to the nearest police station & putting pressure on the local MLA to see that such ladies are taken off the streets.
    Not an easy task at Street Providence but some one needs to do this service when the Government pretends to look the other side .
    It's really tiring, expensive, complicated, difficult but yet achievable and we need your help to help so many in the streets of Goa who just might be waiting for a second chance to get off the streets
    All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
    God bless you all 
    Donald Fernandes 
    8380097564 / 7020314848
    05May/25

    CHRISTMAS IS A SAD SEASON FOR THE POOR

    Updates
    2.12.2024.  6pm IST
    Christmas is a sad season for the Poor.
    Christmas should be a celebration of poverty because it acknowledges the plight of the poor and God's decision to side with them. 
    But read on till the end, then decide if the starting of this post is reality or not.
    As we enter ADVENT, we @ Street Providence, Goa, appeal to our benefactors to support our work across different states where we work in really difficult areas along with local communities for the uplifting those in hunger, poverty & homeless.
    Ultimately Christmas is that time of the year where we all want to give & we offer you many projects where you can help us by giving.
    ◇◇◇ Our projects start :
    ☆ A. In Goa & we have decided to admitt into our homes as many as possible goans suffering in the mental hospital from mental disabilities especially 5 young men whose families are either gone untraceable or their families are not interested or just can't manage them at home.
    These 5 young men are in the age group of 24 to 35 years and have been inside for over a few months if not over a year and beyond.
    All these 5 have stayed with us but once better than they get too smart and wish to go away but ultimately land up back in the mental hospital. 
    It's really irritating to go on picking them up and getting them into the home but then it's CHRISTMAS. Time to give another chance.
    I have the space, I have the set up , I have everything needed to accommodate them so this is my resolution to readmitt them into our homes.  3 are Catholics, 1 Hindu & 1 Muslim.
    ☆ B. In Goa We are also serving free breakfast 
    8 am to 9 am daily and dry mid day meal 1pm to 2pm daily till 5th Jan 2025 @ Old Goa for The St Francis Xavier Exposition.
    ☆ C. In Manipur & last few months the situation is getting or rather got out of Hand that last many weeks internet is banned so you can imagine the plight.
    We ask for help to build homes in Churachandpur area each costing Rs 5 lacs.
    Already one home built and handed over to a family.
    Second home getting ready only amount is to be paid.
    If you feel that Yes you can pitch in an amount then this Christmas,  8 more families will get a home this Christmas.
    This is the second year that Christmas fevour will be absolutely low key or just negligible for the poor and displaced in many districts especially in Churachandpur.
    Currently winter is on and temperatures can drop to 3 to 4 degrees at time.
    ☆D.  In Jharkhand & the winter is just starting and recently Bishop Theodore distrubuted 500 blankets 1st round to school children around our shelter home costing Rs 250 each.
    About 1500 + monkey caps @ 78 each is being planned for distribution in the coming week.
    Temperature here dip between 6 to 8 degrees and these are children who walk kms on foot to attend schools.
    We intend to provide another 1000 blankets once the monkey caps are distributed to another 1000 poor school children.
    We @ Street Providence work on the ground 365 dsys , 24* 7 , in Goa, Jharkhand, Manipur & Sindhudurg  with the poor , the hungry and the sick,  especially those with mental disabilities and festivals of all religions are no big deal to those in poverty and sickness.
    It's something which just gets worse year by year as poverty is increasing due to high prices and constant trend of upward inflation.
    Every year we read , hear and are told that  Christmas is about the birth of God's Son – Jesus. 
    It is about how he came & to give us love, hope and joy. 
    That message doesn't change from year to year.
    But Year after year I observe that the lights , decorations, pomp gets fancier and fancier for places where the GDP is high but it's getting darker and darker in so many other parts of Our country 
    Ultimately we forget that Baby Jesus was born in a manger without any comfort and pomp but the celebration is just the opposite.
    All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564 
    God bless you all
    Donald Fernandes 
    8380087564 / 7020314848

    05May/25

    BEING A LADY, ABANDONED AND SUFFERING FROM PHYSICAL & MENTAL DISABILITIES IS SOMETHING BEYOND YOURS AND MY IMAGINATION.

    Updates
    7.12.2024. 6pm IST 
    Being a lady, abandoned and suffering from physical & mental disabilities is something beyond yours and my imagination.
    Add : homeless and unwanted by society.
    On International Disability Day we had a small but awesome program for 65+ lady residents, all on Severe psychiatric medication, reassuring our motto : ENDING HUNGER and HOMELESSNESS.
    The YouTube link of 75 min will leave you enlightened about our NGO , our work, our team, how we treat and care for people with mental disabilities, etc.
    We also launched our 2nd edition book on the work we do. This is the link of of E Book.
    We have numerous teams & volunteers and each one play their part, synchronizing with the other teams to keep the residents up and running.
    ☆ Team 1 :
    The 3 hours program held on 6th Dec at Silver Bells Sangolda was meticulously planned by my trustee & sister Joanita Pinto & supported by my brother in law John Pinto and both are senior citizens along with our office staff.
    Joanita is the incharge for all office work , social media, documentation and over all co ordinator between the manager and the residents.
    ☆ Team 2 :
    The transportation of these 65+ lady residents from 6 homes of which 10 of them are wheel chair bound due to old aged and due to physical disabilities is the responsibility of Our operation manager Sapnesh Salgaonkar and his team who did a fantastic job of moving the residents to & fro along with the drivers and other staff.
    Sapnesh is the hands on man for our entire operation across Goa, for anything and everything.
    ☆ Team 3 :
    To our dedicated Volunteer Sir Bosco George IPS , who post retirement, is the MC for all our programs and the man who is there always,  brightening up the lives of people with disabilites.
    Sir Bosco George also is our trouble shooter between me and the authorities especially the government departments.
    ☆ Team 4 :
    To Joseph Fernandes our volunteer who makes it a point to cover all our programs and capture these events on his camera.
    ☆ Team 5 :
    To our care givers from Jharkhand who take alot of trouble living in the homes and caring for these ladies, is something not easy to handle.
    ☆ Team 6 :
    To our Physiotherapists, counselors, art teacher, Vocational teacher and our Resident Doctor, who play their part 24 *7 , 365 days, we thank you.
    ☆ Team 7 :
    Consists of other silent volunteers across Goa who perform free of cost the duties assigned to them without any expectations and publicity.
    We appreciate the attendance of :
    ♡♡♡ Sir Sanjit Rodrigues IAS,  
    Secretary Factories & boilers, Government of Goa and 
    ♡♡♡ Sir Manuel Barretto,  Director Women & child Department, 
    who experienced 1st hand, many goan ladies with mental disabilities and shared their views about their approach towards ending Hunger and homelessness. 
    The resident ladies were thrilled and excited to be recognized by the audience for the performance they put up.
    We also had a small exhibition on their art craft and drawing work done in the last 2 years and each Invitee was asked to pick any item and take home as a remembrance of the lady residents in our homes.
    You need to see their art work in this you tube link attached.
    With out The Favour of God and good health it's next to impossible to do what we do.
    It's very stressful , complicated and pulls you down as dealing with mental disabilities residents is not easy plus dealing with landlords as everyone today thinks feels and understands that NGOs make alot of money.
    It eats me up at times when I see and am told about so and so suffering on the streets due to mental disabilities & I just can't help or do anything.
    A few of these ladies are very very aggressive in nature and anything small is enough to kick, hit , pull hair of others, use sharp objects to injure their own self and others, attempt to harm or run away.
    But it's a great satisfaction that we are able to do this little without any formal training or any specialized courses.
    This is where I  see Jesus Christ in people with mental disabilities, the homeless & the hungry.
    For Jesus Christ as a Roman catholic is not in any church , structure or any formality which I have been told or taught about.
    This is my Bible, my church , my retreat , my prayers, my recollection, my religion.
    My motive is to do good to those who I don't know and who will never ever come back to thank me or ever be able to help me.
    If I only help those who I know or who will help me back then that's not Jesus Christ teaching to what I learnt.
    Although I never or very seldom visit any shelter homes yet I aware of everything that goes on in all our Homes.
    It's their disappointment of residents with mental disabilities living in a shelter home which upsets me as LIFE IS MEANT TO BE HAPPY & CHEERFUL & then I get stressed and upset as I see 1st hand that they want to get better but their medication is such that they just can't do much alone outside in this COMMERCIAL LIFE.
    The worst part of mental disabilities is that SOCIETY cares a DAMN starting from the Government and going up to all religious heads including my religious head Cardinal Ferrao.
    The demand is so high for rehabilitation for the poorest of the poor and our own ethnic goans  that everyone is just is closing their eyes and pretending or assuming some one else will do this service.
    Our shelter homes cares for Catholics, Hindus & Muslims.
    Our staff is predominantly Hindus , but we also have Catholics , Muslims and Tribals , both men & ladies working in our homes.
    Once you see the entire link of 75 minutes & feel yes ” its time to be a volunteer or a benefactor then please whatsapp me your views on 8380097564 “.
    All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
    God bless you all
    Donald Fernandes 
    8380097564 / 7020314848
    05May/25

    JUST THE RIGHT TIME TO PROVIDE WARMTH TO THE POOR CHILDREN WHO MIGHT JUST BE IN NEED OF A BLANKET OR A MONKEY CAP.

    Updates
    9.12.2024.  9pm IST 
    🌲🌲🌲Christmas is around the corner as well as winter temperatures are dropping across North India.
    And just recently Pondicherry & TN faced a cyclone.
    Just the right time to provide warmth to the poor children who might just be in need of a blanket or a monkey cap.
    Check the weather on Google about the drop in temperatures across North India.
    In Jharkhand surrounding our shelter home we have 4 schools In the vicinity with a combined strength close to 1500 children who most of them walk kms to come to school including the winter.
    In Delhi & Haryana we have decided to do something this Christmas for Street children & children with disabilities.
    Pondicherry & TN , went thru a severe cyclone last week and we havd identified 175 poor families living in pitiful situations and the least we can do is provide them bedsheets, towels & blankets.
    Infact our volunteers are shortly driving to Pondicherry & TN to hand over the relief material.
    In Jharkhand we have already distributed 500 blankets thru Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas.
    Another 1000 blankets & 1500 monkey caps go out this week thru Bishop Theodore. 
    In Delhi we have a nun who is on the job.
    In Haryana we have a school teacher helping us.
    In Pondicherry we have a Goan priest Fr Nathan co ordinating with the local nuns in whose area these 175 families are temporary sheltered.
    In Manipur we have just built our 2nd home and another 8 homes are committed.
    If your views are in Sync with my views then it's time to donate whatever you can towards poor children across so many states.
    Ultimately Christmas is a time of giving & giving to the poorest of the poor.
    All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
    God bless you all
    Donald Fernandes 
    8380097564 / 7020314848

    05May/25

     WE ARE LAUNCHING 3 PROJECTS WITH THE SOLE INTENTION OF A BETTER GOA FOR GOANS, AS WELL AS TO GENERATE INCOME FOR OUR SHELTER HOMES

    Updates
    12.12.2024. 8pm IST
    STREET PROVIDENCE – GOA is launching 3 projects with the sole intention of a better Goa for Goans, as well as to generate income for our shelter homes in which we provide free rehabilitation to poor people living on the streets with mental disabilities. 
     
    Our 3 planned projects are :
     
    ☆ 1. Retainership for providing services to safeguard your property in Goa.
     
    ☆ 2. Increasing the agricultural produce in Goa by  growing barren fields across Goa.
     
    ☆ 3. By providing job opportunities locally to students from ITI’s in Goa.
     
    Our 1st project is in collaboration with RETIRED POLICE OFFICIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF GOA.
     
    RETIRED POLICE OFFICIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF GOA, is headed by Sir Ramesh Gaonkar, Retd DySp of the Goa Police.  A down to earth Police officer, Sir Gaonkar joined the the Police force as a constable and rose up the ranks to retire as a DySp due to his honesty and integrity. .
     
    Their association has 375+ members and in the last 7 years of their existence it attracts only the upright and honest officials whose mission is to give back to Society.
     
    At the moment we are focused on Goans living abroad who are having their properties, houses & land in Goa but are unable to be sure if there are any encroachments, illegal tenants, illegal grabbing of their property due to the absence of the owner in Goa.
     
    We keep hearing that property is grabbed of owners living abroad or owners who are abroad are  intimidated to sell even if they don't want to sell.
     
    Through this project we intend to reduce the sale of Goan properties, by  safe guarding your property while you are abroad for a RETAINERSHIP FEE.
     
    If all start selling their property in Goa and start migrating then there will be nothing left of GOA and Goans.
     
    With the help of Retired Goan police personnel and the man power at our shelter homes who have been rehabilitated having been taken off the streets , we will be able to provide numerous services incase any Goan abroad is keen to avail of such services.
     
    A retainership fee will be applicable which covers the basic transportation cost of moving to the property to oversee the security against encroachment and illegal activities.
     
    Why RETIRED POLICE OFFICIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF GOA ?
     
    The Retired Police personal are based across Goa and getting them on board is a win win situation for all.
     
    1. They are across Goa.
    2. Logistics is quick and reduces transport costs.
    3. Familiar with the locality.
    4. Since they are Retired, they are willing to act and do their bit.
    5. After retirement they bring their expertise to a worthy service 
    6. A small source of income to keep them motivated.
    7. With a wide range of networking and ground contacts of their years in service,  these retired police officers are a strong position to deal with the situation at hand based on the requirements of the customers.
     
    We have planned to increase our shelter home capacity currently from 250 beds to 500 beds and that will require resources and finances.
     
    With a huge manpower at our disposal, we will be able to put this manpower to use in the homes which we intend to undertake as a retainership supervised by the retired police personal from this ASSOCIATION.
     
    Also the revenue we intend to generate will be used to run our homes and help us  increase the beds from 500 to 750 .
     
    Looking at the high level of Goans reaching the streets we are convinced of the need to take in more such needy goans and provide them food clothing shelter & medicines.
     
    We are aware that there will be various queries , views, thoughts, which are but natural as no NGO in the past has ever ventured into these areas.
     
    ◇ 1. When we started the food bank in 2017,  no one believed we would succeed, but today we save 8000 kgs to 10000 kgs monthly of wet waste reaching the dumps by feeding the poor people across Goa.
     
    With our current proposal to the Government, we hope to save save 5000 kgs daily or 150000 kgs monthly of wet waste reaching the garbage dumps.
     
    ◇ 2. When we started the shelter homes in Goa it was assumed that only migrants are on the streets , but today of our current 180 strength we have 80% Goans- both men and women who we have rescued to live a life of dignity.
     
    ◇ 3. Like so many of our other programs, we provide in Goa services to many poor Goans like free dry  rations, building shelters, house repairs etc.
     
    We always think ahead of the problem and our projects are in the interest of GOANS & HOW TO SAVE GOA.
     
    This 1st project will be under the control & authority of two well know Goans :
    Sir Bosco George, IPS Retd DIG , Goa Police &
    Adv Caroline Collaso, High Court Advocate.
     
    Sir Bosco George will be incharge of the operations with RETIRED POLICE OFFICIAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF GOA 
     
    Adv Caroline Collaso will be incharge of the legal matters.
     
    As for me I will be incharge of the office and other connected works.
     
    For the other two projects we have another two reputed Goa Police IPS officers incharge but those projects are slated to be launched once we stabilise and get running this 1st project sometime in mid 2025 or end of 2025
    Pleased be free to mail us on Street.providence79@gmail.com if you are keen to avail of our services to save guard your property in Goa.
    This project is only for Goans who are abroad initially.
    God bless you all
    Donald Fernandes 
    8380097564 / 7020314848

    05May/25

    HON CM OF GOA Dr PRAMOD SAWANT ON THE EVE OF THE NEW YEAR ie 30.12.24 , SIGNS A FILE WHICH HE HAD PROMISED TO DO & WITH THIS SIGNATURE , OUR FOOD ALLOWANCE INCREASES

    Updates
    1.1.2025. 9am IST
    Hon CM of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant on the eve of The New Year ie 30.12.24 , signs a file which he had promised to do & with this signature , our food allowance increases from Rs 33 per day to Rs 200 per day for poor goan homeless women with mental disabilities in our shelter homes.
    On behalf of STREET PROVIDENCE, I wish each and everyone a Very Happy and Blessed New Year 2025.
    2024 has been a fantastic year at our NGO both at Street Providence shelter homes & Food Bank Sangolda. 
    Our struggle started exactly a year back at WCD over in December 2023 :
    ◇ grants not given in time ,
    ◇ grants given at 2007 inflation rate,
    ◇ Unnecessary waste of time to follow up,
    Etc.
    We took :
    Morchas, Press conferences, Agitations.
    We even sat in the WCD office one night with a strong police force from Panjim Police station sent by my good friend PI Vijay Chondankar.
    But the fight was not in Vain & I did not give up.
    During this struggle , between me and the Deputy Director , many Angels came to the rescue and 90% of them were from The Government of Goa.
    I am publicily thanking all those who stood with us for a worthy cause :
    ☆ 1. Former WCD Director, Mrs Sangeeta Porob
    ☆ 2. Followed by former WCD Director Mrs Fransquina Oliveira
    ☆ 3. Current WCD Director, Mr Manuel Barretto.
    ☆ 4. Mr Arun Kumar Mishra IAS, Secretary WCD for doing his best to sign and move ASAP all and any file connected to the our NGO regarding shelter homes for women on the streets.
    ☆ 5. Minister Subhash Phal Dessai for being that important link to listen to my problems and get the same conveyed to the Hon CM of Goa.
    Not once, not twice but many times.
    ☆ 6. Disability Commissioner, Sir Guru Pawaskar who listened to all my unending complaints and threats and worked towards getting the actual ground reality issues of disabilities on the streets to the ears of The Hon CM of Goa.
    ☆ 7. Add Finance Secretary, Mr Vikas Gaunker, the most important link who has always understood the problems faced by our NGO towards caring for poor goan ladies on the streets with mental disabilities.
    Without his signature on any file – it's next to impossible to get any grants from the Government.
    ☆ 8. Dysp Tushar Vernekar incharge of Hon CM security for giving us appointments as and when we were in a need to raise our grievances infront of The Hon CM and being a link to get the signature on the file even though the file in the CMO.
    ☆ 9. Hon Minister of WCD , Sir Vishwajeet Rane for not holding our file back in the last one year when presented for his signature.
    In the last 6 years of taking grants from WCD, I  am yet to be invited by the Hon WCD Minister neither have I met personally the Hon WCD Minister.
    A big thanks to Mr Vishwajeet Rane, 
    WCD Minister for all the support given in the  last 6 years towards our NGO from his department ie WOMEN & CHILD ( WCD ) 
    Finally to Dr Pramod Sawant who has been a true brother / son to the homeless goan ladies with mental disabilities in our homes.
    JAN 24 funds released & MAR 24 funds released which was due for 22-23 & 23-24.
    July 24 funds released in advance for 24-25 which usually was not happening for the last 6 years of we getting grants from WCD. 
    July 24 First tranche released = 30%
    Sept 24 second tranche released for 24-25 = 30%
    So total we got 60% 
    30.12.24 file signed and that is another 30%.
    That too in the middle of the year to get approval is not an easy task. But Hon CM kept his word.
    We still have another 10% to get which the Dept has to move quickly the file as Hon CM,  I am confident will sign that too.
    My New Year Resolution :
    Help another 60 goan homeless ladies with mental disabilities to get off the streets and into our homes.
    Hon CM has helped us get connected through the above Minister , Secretaries & Other officers & it's better to sit on a table and raise the point rather than shout on a street.
    Last I thank our COOL & CALM volunteer for all occasions and all problems, former DIG of Goa Police, Sir Bosco George retd IPS for all the networking , co ordinating, follow up on my behalf in the Secretariat.
    Sir Bosco has taught me and guided me how to deal with the right people in the Government.
    Sir Bosco is our fire fighting man between Street Providence and The Government of Goa regarding poor goan homeless abandoned women on the streets with mental disabilities.
    We are committed to doubling our intake from the current sanctioned grant for 60 ladies to 120 ladies as no goan lady should be on the streets of Goa.
    Overall The Government of Goa has not been troubling our work either at The Food Bank or at the Shelter homes.
    HARD WORK PAYS & PAYS THOSE WHO ARE COMMITTED INSPITE OF THE OBSTACLES.
    We are committed to ending Hunger and homelessness in Goa in 2025.
    All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564.

    God bless you all
    Donald Fernandes 
    8380087564 / 7020314848
    05May/25

    FOOD BANK SANGOLDA GOA FROM 1.1.2025,  HAS BEEN PROVIDING A BIRTHDAY CAKE TO ANY SENIOR CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES

    Updates
    31.1.2025.  10pm IST
    FOOD BANK SANGOLDA GOA from 1.1.2025,  has been providing A BIRTHDAY CAKE to any senior citizen with disabilities, right to the door step free of cost, only in GOA.
    This project is from 1st Jan 25 to 31st Dec 25.
    We have identified 2000 goans who are senior citizens, registered with the Government, having a disability Certificate/ UDID Card and suffering from disabilities and on their birthday, we are providing a Free cake or a basket of fruits or Vegetables.
    We employed on a Salary basis , a middle aged goan girl who is herself totally physical challenged without hands and legs and yet able to use a phone and a laptop who does the tele calling for the project from her home.
    We have confirmed data of these senior citizens with disabilities and their birthdays.
    The girl calls these senior citizens, introduces herself and our NGO.
    Then the girl inquires whether their birthday is on the day the data is showing & asks if they would like to receive a Free birthday cake.
    Some say yes while others say no.
    Then the girl inquires of they would like Fruits or vegetables.
    Once the girl gets the details with address, Landmark and time of delivery , she posts on a WhatsApp group where our volunteers are present.
    We have volunteers right from :
    Tip of Goa ie Pernem to the last point of Goa ie Loliem in Canacona & from 
    Mormugao to Valpoi to Dharbandora & Sanguem
    We are covering all 12 takukas in Goa.
    Imagine the planning, coordination &  implementation only through whatsapp messages.
    All this took alot of time & effort.
    Ultimately all the team members feel that joy and satisfaction when they visit a senior citizen with disabilities on their birthday.
    You must be wondering who is footing the bills & why is a small NGO like us doing this ?
    Reaching out for the full year, to over 2000 senior citizens with disabilities for their birthday is going to cost us Rs 10 lacs to Rs 12 lacs.
    We @ Street Providence are doing this as no one understands ” disabilities ” better than us as we prefer to get the work done rather than see them just left alone and suffering.
    In our shelter homes last 7 years, we celebrate each resident birthday with a nice cake and good food and that's when I decided to go beyond our homes.
    We all including me celebrate our birthdays and our children / spouse / parents birthday where thousands if not lacs are spent.
    Last one month we have seen really poor goans with disabilites who no one might or rather there is no one to celebrate their birthday.
    Each birthday gift is between Rs 400 to Rs 600.
    Depending on the location.
    So next time you are celebrating your birthday or of a family members birthday, do think about our poor senior citizen Goans who through your donations also feel that joy and happiness as we reach them at their door step.
    This is where and how we intend to raise the resources.
    But 1st we decided to put in our funds, set up the project, sort out the likely issues, get the team members into the system and now after 1 month make this project public through our social media post.
    Infact in the coming week there will be a press conference with all our team members connected to this project along with The Social Welfare Minister and The Social Welfare Director who has been very supportive of this innitative.
    One of its kind across India.
    Well this entire month of January 2025 I took a complete break from all platforms of social media to recharge my body and that's the reason you did not receive any whatsapp updates on our work at our NGO.
    We ended the year 2024 on a very high note, thanks to our benefactors, staff and volunteers who have supported our mission of ” ending Hunger and homelessness “.
    Beginning of 2025 right from 1st Jan we :
    ☆ 1. Blessed & innaugrated a small new office at Sangolda at the hands of Bishops Theodore Mascarenhas.
    ☆ 2. We also Blessed a brand new Morgue to be used by parishioners of St Diogo Church Guirim & those in need FREE of cost at the hands of Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas. 
    ☆ 3. We did a complete soft launch / run for the full month of January 25 of reaching out to 60+ senior citizens suffering from disabilities on their birthday by providing them a free birthday cake or fruits and vegetables 
    ☆ 4. Republic Day 2025 , Navtara sponsored 1000 meals for the poor which were distributed by our volunteers and other NGOs who are working along with us to the poor and needy.
    ☆ 5. In Jharkhand we donated & distrubuted 1000+ new blankets and 1500+ new monkey caps to children in the vicinity of our shelter home in Lather district.
    We have planned another 4 projects which will be implemented in the month of February / March namely :
    ♧1. Sponsoring Sports for poor rural children.
    ♧ 2. Sponsoring musical instruments for poor rural children.
    ♧ 3. Feeding outside the biggest hospital meals daily for a year in the afternoon.
    ♧ 4. Livelihood project thru animal husbandry for 300 poor widows across Goa.

    For those who missed my posts and wondered what happened, I apologize for not informing earlier that I was on a recharge break.
    Our donations took a big dive as many assumptions arise in minds of benefactors when they did not receive any posts for over a month.
    It's the 1st time in 7 years, that there was no posts about our work for a full month.
    We are active , working and doing work as always so please do get in touch with me thru WhatsApp messages on 8380087564.
    God bless you all
    Donald Fernandes 
    8380097564 / 7020314848

    05May/25

    THIS POST IS ABOUT 2 FOOD BANK PROJECTS

    Updates
    3.2.2025. 9pm IST 
    This post is about 2 food bank projects :
    ☆ 1. FOOD BANK SANGOLDA GOA collects 55000 kgs or 55 tonnes of good Cooked food in the last 10 months from 9 factories at Verna , which were surely going to the landfills if not for a department called FACTORIES & BOILERS. 
    Details attached in a poster.
    ♡♡♡ Thanks to the :
    ♡ Secretary of Factories and Boilers, 
    ♡ Government of Goa, Sir Sanjit Rodrigues IAS &
    ♡ Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers Government of Goa, Sir Anant Pangam. 
    Both these officials studied and understood the concept last year Jan 2024 and results are here for all to see as they implemented the project from 1.4.24 with these 9 companies.
    Yes our mission of ending Hunger and homelessness is about shelter homes & Food Banks.
    It's called INTEGRATION for those who understand.
    Without food it's impossible to feed the poor and run shelter homes.
    We have 9 big factories whose details are in the poster attached who were part of a program to save Food from reaching the landfills and channelised to feed the poor and needy through our Food bank.
    Of course there is a small monthly charge per factory which enables us to move the food daily.
    6 factories faithfully pay us the agreed amount.
    ● 1 factory we don't take any charges as they have been a good CSR partner for many years.
    ● 1 factory made us tie up with their canteen contractor who assured us in front of the officials of Factories and Boilers to pay us the assured monthly charges but for the last 10 months is refusing to honour the commitment & purposely before our truck reaches the kitchen, sends the food to the dumps that's why if you minutely look at the chart the food from a 1000 kgs a month has reached 70 kgs a month.
    ● 1 company assured us a product which they manufacture in their place, in place of their monthly charges, which we use in our homes, we agreed, gave for 4 months the particular product but now refuses.
    Says we can't honour the commitment and  wrote a mail saying ” take the food if you want or we will throw it out “. And mind you it's 1000 kgs a month food wasted.
    It's like they are giving away their food to beggars and one of those beggars they assume is me based on the attitude of this company officials.
    Still we collect the food free of cost.
    If everyone expects a food bank to collect food free of cost then who will bear the expenses ?
    That's why we are having wet waste issues and The Hon Chief Minister of Goa is not doing his part to look into our model which is already TRIED , TESTED , IMPLEMENTED & WORKING.
    There are 2 other departments which the Hon CM of Goa should put into this project :
    Labour Department &
    Environment Department. 
    I have handed over a presentation to The office of The Labour Minister few months back, no reply.
    Why labour Department?
    Because all factories use canteen contractors and these contractors are registered with the labour Department.
    Just like Factories and Boilers Dept have instructed these 9 factories to give away their extra canteen cooked food to the Food bank in the same way , the labour Minister through his Labour Secretary & Labour Director should enforce all canteen contractors to give away their extra cooked food to the food bank.
    The Labour Minister is also the Minister for Solid waste management. 
    It's a ideal way for the Labour Minister to reduce the wet waste but not sure if The Minister cares for my letter.
    Last week Secretary Of Factories and Boilers took a review meeting in the Secretariat which was attended by The Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers and almost 15 companies which included the 9 existing Factories and 6 more additional Factories who have understood the need to join this program of saving good Cooked canteen food going waste.
    Factories & boilers dept has set a target of 8 tonnes a month to collect for the year 25 -26 from these 16 Factories.
    Currently we are collecting 5 tonnes a month from these 9 Factories.
    Overall all, Factories in Goa throw out cooked food of this volume :
    5000 kgs or 5 tonnes a day or 
    150000 kgs or 150 tonnes a month.
    And we in Goa keep shouting wet waste.
    If Factories and Boilers Dept Government of Goa can take a lead to reduce wet waste then WHY can't Environment Dept and Labour Department not join in .
    Hon CM of Goa you need to look into this burning issue of Wet waste and the solution is in front of you.
    ☆ 2. From 1st January 2025 , food bank is providing Free cake / basket of fruits / bag of fresh  vegetables to 2000 GOANs senior citizens suffering from disabilities with a UDID Card and registered with the Government of Goa, on their birthday right at their door step.
    Entire month of January 2025 our team visited 60 homes of goans with disabilites on their birthday.  A small video attached with this post.
    The proceeds that we get by collecting factory food goes partly into funding the free cake project for senior citizens with disabilities, along with potential donnors who are also sponsoring Cake for the project.
    All communications strictly through whatsapp messages only on 8380097564
    God bless you all 
    Donald Fernandes 
    8380097564 / 7020314848