Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS) As many will be partying away to welcome 2011, members of Goonj will usher in the fifth New Year of their voluntary organisation by providing warm clothes to Delhi’s homeless. “About 20 volunteers of Goonj get together and we try to bring warmth to the homeless people spending their nights under the open skies in the biting cold by distributing blankets and woollen clothes,” Goonj’s founder Anushu Gupta told IANS.

There are about 150,000 homeless people - among them 10,000 women - living on the capital’s roads. Most of them are not accommodated in the night shelters.

“The message of Goonj for the past five years on New Year’s Eve has been an appeal to the public that instead of spending so much on parties and other celebrations, they spend a tiny portion of this in buying and donating woollen clothes to the homeless. We are happy that many volunteer,” he said.

Gupta also appealed for more woollens for the young.

“We need more woollens for four- to five-year-old kids. With most of the people reluctant to give their kids’ sweaters, we have dearth of woollen clothes to be given to children,” Gupta said.

Goonj’s efforts are not limited to collecting and distributing woollen clothes on New year’s Eve and they collect old clothes, books, magazines and toys from city dwellers and turn these into useful products for the needy.

The organisation has a total of 300 volunteers across 21 states who work through a network of over 150 grassroots organisations to provide clothes and other basic amenities to millions in the far-flung villages.

Those who are keen to contribute woollen clothes and other items can contact 011-41401216 or send an email to mailgoonj@gmail.com. To get more information about the collection centres where one can donate clothes, one can visit the website: www.goonj.org