CHENNAI: The greatest thing is not to just believe in Santa, but be one for someone. That’s what Rinku Mecheri, founder, Chennai Volunteers (CV), did by partnering with Rotary NextGen to launch ‘Be A Santa’, a community initiative where people are encouraged to gift new toys.
The toys will then be distributed to children fighting cancer and thalassemia in hospitals, as well as needy children in homes and shelters.
“This is the second edition of the campaign. We aim to reach out to more than 1,000 children this Christmas,” says Rinku. “We started it last year and the response was immense. People from other cities in India as well as overseas donated toys.” An Amazon gift registry has been created for the campaign. Rinku said they will be distributing gifts to the kids from December 15.
“We are celebrating Christmas at multiple hospitals and shelter homes for children across the city. These are volunteer-led events curated on specific days at partner NGOs of CV. Apart from our regular volunteers, there will also be guest volunteers,” he said adding that it will be followed by Santa gifting each child a new gift.
John Pradeep JL, founder, Clowns of Chennai, said his company will be a part of these celebrations. “We will be going to hospital wards and other centres and entertain children there,” he said. Those interested can donate toys at: shorturl.at/crGX1
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