Theruvoram volunteers ring in New Year with homeless

MALAPPURAM: When all were warming up to celebrate on the streets of various cities on the eve of New Year late night on Sunday, a group of youngsters from Malappuram and Kozhikode districts chose to take a different route to reach out to the destitute for an unusual celebration. 

The collective named Theruvoram fed around hundred destitute and homeless people who spend day and night on the streets and distributed blankets among them as part of the celebration. The volunteers of Theruvoram took to the streets, railway stations and bus stands of Tirur, Parappanangadi and Kottakkal towns in Malappuram and Kozhikode city on Sunday night to find out the needy.

“This is not the first time we do this. We have been doing this on almost every Sunday and particularly, on the eve of major celebrations to impart the message of compassion and giving,” said T.P. Sasikumar, general secretary of Theruvoram.

Theruvoram has 50 active volunteers in two districts and is supported by hundreds of wellwishers. 

“They include businessmen, students and employees of various institutions. 

“They support us materially and financially helping our charity efforts,” he said. 

The group started two decades ago as a collective of palliative volunteers and given a shape and officially launched in January 2017 as Theruvoram Destitute Care based in Thenhipalam near Calicut University.

Theruvoram team also conducts monthly visits to tribal hamlets of Malappuram, Wayanad and Palakkad districts with provisions such as rice, dress, toys and books. 

“The 50-member team will also have children. This is a project to instill compassion and kindness in children,” Mr Sasikumar said.