Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Mar 26: White Doves, an NGO founded by Corrine Rasquinha, who is also part of the task force team, is lending a helping hand by serving free food not only to destitute but also for those who are in need of food.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), entire nation is under lockdown for 21 days. Many homeless are starving as they cannot afford food. Corrine Rasquinha’s White Doves team is coming to their rescue by serving free food. They have become a ray of hope for the destitute in this critical situation.

Speaking to daijiworld.com, Corrine Rasquinha said, "Ever since the coronavirus crisis started, we used to wait near the railway station for one hour and people used to come and pick up food packets. They were coming in groups. Hence, during the last two days, we did not venture out because of strict lockdown. We had to get permission from the concerned authorities. Now with the permission of Mangaluru City Commissioner (MCC) commissioner, we have set out to feed the hungry.

"In the afternoon, we fed people who were standing near Hampankatta and Wenlock. Evening again we went out. We had also informed police to send people in need of food to Nehru Maidan. When we went to Nehru Maidan, there was a big crowd waiting for food. We have fed close to 250 people today. We will continue this with the permission of MCC. Even before coronavirus started, we were feeding the needy near the railway station. However, the big challenge is that people crowd and do not maintain queue," she said.

White Doves is an NGO founded by Corrine Rasquinha in the early 1990’s with the motto to reach out to the least, last and lost. It has been running homes for the destitute and mentally challenged.

This is the only home of its kind in Mangaluru, where the destitute are picked from the streets and nursed back to normalcy. They have a license from the district administration to take care of the destitute in need of psychiatric treatment. In addition, the White Doves feed over 150 to 200 hungry mouths on the streets on daily basis. The other works taken up by White Doves is building homes for homeless, educating the poor, providing rations to the marginalized of society and providing help to the poor patients.