Today, August 27,  Just One has organized a food distribution in Dombasti. This small village is located within one of the wealthier districts of Varanasi. The villagers undertake the work that the other residents consider too menial, or that are prescribed jobs for the lower castes.  This includes cleaning the streets, disposing of dead animals, and collecting recyclable materials for resale. Even by Indian standards their income is both meager, and unreliable as a steady source of income.

On August 18th, the Just One team visited Dev Pokri in Varanasi, India and fed 150 children and adults.

To get there, I was winding through street after street, and could see the buildings deteriorating with each turn until they were simple, unpainted brick buildings. I was still surprised to find simple cloth huts with mud floors at our destination. The people of Dev Pokri had found an empty space in the middle of Varanasi and built their huts on it – huts that were so small in comparison to the surrounding buildings. Looking at the huts in this monsoon season, I wondered what it was like for the residents when it rained.

On August 5th, the Just One team visited the remote area of Parmandapur to offer food to the local children of the village. On this day, a total of 290 children and adults are served cooked vegetables, bread, and a banana.

When I arrive, I am greeted with warm smiles as a mutual recognition takes place. I was here earlier in the month.  As we prepare the food, some children come to say hello. It is nice to see that they are all smiling and happy.   It feels good to share time with these children. To simply love them and be loved by them.