Rotaract Club of Thane Downtown celebrates Diwali in a noble way

Mother Teresa once said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” However, on the auspicious day of Diwali, the Rotaract Club of Thane Downtown served mid-day meals to 54 underprivileged kids in Thane. For this noble cause, the club members raised funds through Happy Diwali 7.0, in which they sold the Diyas made by local potters. Additionally, individuals had the option to donate these purchased diyas to orphanages and slums to improve the lives of those who were less fortunate. It also gave local Diya makers a platform to grow their businesses. Each pack of Diyas was priced between Rs. 20 and Rs.50. Over 1000 units were sold. Rtr. Rushikesh Bhadane, Rtr. Mansi Kanye and Rtr. Ishita Mulye were at the helm of this initiative.

Along with lanterns and sweets, Diwali is a festival when people purchase new clothes. However, some individuals, particularly the tribal communities, cannot afford to do so. Therefore, to make their Diwali memorable, along with the Rotary Club of Thane Downtown, its Rotaract wing worked on the cloth donation initiative with the Udaan Foundation. The club set up contribution boxes at the entrances of many societies in Thane, and a group of volunteers worked hard to collect donations.

After collecting all the items, they were segregated into several categories, wrapped in boxes, sealed, and given to the Udaan Foundation, which further donated to Adivasi communities in the Wada district on the eve of Diwali. Approximately nine large boxes of clothes were distributed.

Rtr. Rushikesh Bhadane, the president of the Rotaract Club of Thane Downtown, says, “The main reason we are a part of the club is because of efforts like this. At the Rotaract Club of Thane Downtown, we have always tried to work toward the betterment of society. We get immense joy when we bring a smile to other people’s faces. Spreading happiness is our ultimate goal.”