The inspiration for Ashwanth Kumar's community kitchen for those in need was his grandmother, Pankajam Swaminathan, who raised his father alone after his grandfather died early but whose memory is carried forward with the Pankajam Charity Trust. The community kitchen will offer two menus each day. We have kept it at affordable prices and free for those who can't afford it because we want everyone to come and enjoy the food without any hesitation, Ashwanth says. During the pandemic, he, two cooks and a delivery person, served nearly 600-700 people who were homeless, needy, or sick with COVID. Initially, we only began serving the needy around my house, but slowly spread our work to all over Chennai. At first, he used his savings, but like-minded people offered support. Gokul SVR provided free pulses (beans, peas and lentils) produced at their dal mill and will provide them to the community kitchen at subsidized rates.

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