A 'hearty' meal: Bandra restaurant owner offers food to senior citizens stuck at home

Staff pack the meals at Earth Cafe

The owner of a Bandra restaurant has turned saviour for many elderly people in the suburb, who are incapacitated, or bed-ridden, or staying alone. The restrictions due to the pandemic have made them prisoners in their homes. Unable to step out to the market or even get help in some cases, they are grateful for Vik Khatwani's helping hand as he has used his restaurant, Earth Café, to provide free meals to them.

Khatwani said, "Some senior citizens some are bed-ridden and their children are settled abroad. In some cases, a nurse or helper cannot return to take care of them."

Initially Khatwani started helping people left with no income, who were seen on the streets. He began distributing meals outside his restaurant. "After seeing what we were doing - one of our long-time supporters, Million Dollar Vegan (the global non-profit), partnered with us to increase the scale of our drive. Now, we deliver hundreds of free vegetarian meals twice a day to senior citizens' doorstep," he said.

Some messages from senior citizens who received the meals

‘Happy to serve'

Khatwani said the weekly menu is decided on Sunday. "The meal is prepared in our kitchen and it is completely hygienic. My team is extremely happy to serve people. We make delicious, healthy meals, and don't compromise on ingredients. We have been distributing free meals not only to senior citizens residing in high-rises or elite housing societies but also in slum pockets in Bandra. We have advertised our WhatsApp number where the order is placed one day in advance for lunch or dinner, or both," Khatwani said.

Khatwani's Earth Café has been distributing 150 meals every day to the elderly in Bandra. He said, "The elderly often become emotional and shower their blessings on our delivery boys." Once a week, Khatwani checks on the people. "This is for their feedback. These people also send an abundance of thanks to us," he said.

Earth Cafe distributes 150 meals every day

Thankful for the service

Dr Angie Fernandes too, is grateful for Khatwani's venture. She stays hardly a few kilometres from her granduncle and grandaunt in Bandra, but felt helpless, as she was unable to get them food. "I am a dentist and live in Bandra. My grandfather's brother and his sister are both senior citizens. I don't want to visit them as I see patients," she said.

Vik Khatwani, owner, Earth Café

"My grandaunt is bed-ridden, and it was really very taxing for my granduncle to cook the food at his age. So his friend introduced him to Earth Café whose delivery boys bring meals to them free of cost. I am thankful to Earth Café and their team for helping elderly people in the pandemic," Dr Fernandes told mid-day.