As Chennai battles the second wave of COVID-19, a complete lockdown has beee imposed for 15 days until May 24th, with the possibility of an extension. Various organisations and individuals have come together to support those affected by the pandemic and the lockdown by providing meals, door delivery of essentials and raising funds for medical supplies.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of ongoing efforts to help those in need in the city. While the information has been vetted, the situation on the ground is dynamic.
Fundraisers
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund
The TN CM’s relief fund accepts donations from individuals, corporates and other institutions. The donations will be used to augment the oxygen storage capacity in the state, improve production, procure essential medical supplies and in other efforts to combat COVID-19. The donations are 100% tax exempt under 80G.
To donate: https://ereceipt.tn.gov.in/cmprf/cmprf.html
UPI: tmcmprf@iob
Bank details: Account Number: 117201000000070
IFSC Code: IOBA0001172
CMPRF PAN: AAAGC0038F
Cheer NGO
Cheer, an NGO working with women, children and other vulnerable groups such as bonded labourers, is putting together relief kits to be distributed during the lockdown. They also accept volunteers.
To donate or volunteer, reach out on: +91 97100 06555 or helpdesk@cheerngo.com
Bhumi
Bhumi, an NGO working with underprivileged children is stepping in to bolster the much needed infrastructure during the current crisis. This fundraiser will support interventions with partner hospitals and other NGOs to address the shortage of oxygen and critical supplies.
To donate: Bhumi COVID-19 Fundraiser
Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities
IRCDUC works with the marginalised urban communities to enhance capacity and improve policy. This fundraiser will help the homeless, vulnerable groups and migrant workers. They provide dry rations and hygiene kits during the lockdown.
To donate: Google Pay: Dilip Kumar/8825977617
Bank details: Account Number: 50200033906207
IFSC Code: HDFC0001284
HDFC Bank
Egmore Branch
Pharm Foundation
Pharm Foundation is a charitable trust founded by transgender social worker M Nila. The foundation has been working with the trans community in Chennai.
The trans community has been affected by the spread of COVID-19 and the loss of livelihoods. Through this fundraiser, the foundation aims to give dry rations to about 1000 community members living in the regions of Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram. This will be carried out through the trans community volunteers themselves.
To donate: Help The Transgender Community Survive Covid-19 2nd Wave In India
United Way Chennai
United Way Chennai works with the local community to address priority issues and solve social problems. This fundraisers aim to help Chennai’s street vendors who have been adversely affected by COVID-19 and the lockdown. The fundraiser will provide financial relief to help street vendors restart their lives.
To donate: Financial Relief For Street Vendors #UnitedForStreetVendors – United Way Chennai Chapter
[Full disclosure: Meenakshi Ramesh, Trustee of Oorvani Foundation, who anchors Citizen Matters Chennai, is also the CEO of United Way’s Chennai chapter which works across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.]
Bhoomika Trust
Bhoomika Trust, an NGO working on education, assistance to the elderly and disaster relief and rehabilitation, has started a fundraiser to help scale up infrastructure related to oxygen support in the present crisis.
To donate: Bhumika COVID-19 relief
Coviduthalai
Coviduthalai, a volunteer initiative in Tamil Nadu, is raising funds to procure 50 oxygen concentrators for the Greater Chennai Corporation to help tide over oxygen shortage.
To donate: Help Chennai breathe
Samarpana
Samarpana is an NGO working with underprivileged and disadvantaged communities to promote classical art. This fundraiser will go towards procuring 420 oxygen cylinders with 420 regulators and trolleys, 240 oxygen concentrators, 120 high flow meters, 500 NRBC and oxygen masks.
To donate: Oxygen to those in need
Read more: Why are auto drivers in Chennai struggling to survive despite CM’s promise of help?
Home-cooked meals
Meals for Madras
Meals for Madras is an effort to provide those who are affected by COVID and quarantining at home access to clean, home-cooked, comfort food. The food is provided free of cost to ensure everyone can benefit from the initiative. There are over 75 home cooks sending out 150+ meals per day all across Chennai. Meals for Madras also has a community kitchen, through which food is sent to the unorganized sector workers.
To donate: Meals for Madras
Paytm (For android): Meals for Madras
UPI Handle: supportpeople114@yesbankltd
Pay via GooglePay / PhonePe / UPI (Android Only): Meals for Madras
NEFT / IMPS / RTGS
(From Banks in India only)
Account number: 700701717185875
Account name: PEOPLE AFFECTED BY COVID
IFSC code: YESB0CMSNOC
RYA Metrostar
RYA Metrostar, a part of the Rajasthan Youth Association, is a non-profit based in Chennai. During COVID-19 the members have come together to offer free vegetarian meals, monitoring kits and arranging video consultation with medicos for those in need.
To avail the services, contact: +91-9841398413
To donate:
Name: RYA METROSTAR TRUST
Bank Details: Kotak Mahindra
Bank Account Number: 9512195273
IFSC Code: KKBK0008483
Antaarashtriya Agarwal Sammelan
Free vegetarian home cooked meals are provided to COVID positive persons.
To avail the service, contact: 8807700011/9962976877
Vogue Kitchen
Vogue Kitchen in Velachery is offering free home cooked meals to those under home isolation for COVID-19. Delivery within 10 kms of Velachery.
To avail the service, contact: 7358553462/790420000
Monkey Temptation
Free home cooked meals are offered for COVID patients. Order must be placed a day in advance.
To avail the service, contact: 9952946032
Sathyasai Amudham
Free home cooked meals for COVID patients and families in isolation. Contactless delivery. Service available in Ambattur area.
To avail the service, contact: 9840836312, 9444444104
Read more: COVID-19: Women, children in low-income housing bore the worst brunt
Doorstep delivery and other essentials
Relief Riders
Cyclists of Chennai have teamed up to deliver medicines and essentials to the elderly and vulnerable across the city.
To avail the service, contact: 9884089770, 8939233053, 9840059830
TN Wholesale Medical Shop Owners Association
The association of medical shop owners has launched a door to door medicine delivery service. A discount of 50% is offered to COVID-19 patients. Doctors are also available for tele-consultation.
To avail the service, contact: 9342066388 (Whatsapp)
Aalaap Concepts
Aalaap, an arts-consulting company based in Chennai, is offering the services of their volunteers to engage with children who are in isolation or unable to be with their parents.
To avail the services, contact: Ragini.86@gmail.com, aalaap.concepts@gmail.com or DM on Instagram @aalaap_concepts
Blood and plasma donor connect
This crowdsourced effort connects blood and plasma donors with patients in need in Chennai.
For more details: Blood donor connect