Mumbai: Akshaya Chaitanya Celebrates Valentine’s Day 2025 By Feeding 1,000 Caregivers Outside KEM Hospital

Mumbai: While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with gifts, chocolates, and flowers, Akshaya Chaitanya, chose to mark the occasion with a deeper, more meaningful gesture by feeding those who selflessly care for their loved ones. Through its ‘Feeding With Love’ campaign under Swastha Ahara initiative, the NGO provided nutritious meals and roses to 1,000 patient caretakers at KEM Hospital.

Akshaya Chaitanya’s Swasthya Ahara is an initiative dedicated to providing free, nutritious meals to hospital caregivers, ensuring they have the strength and support to face their daily challenges. Every day, thousands of caregivers travel from Mumbai’s outskirts and beyond, dedicating themselves to their loved ones’ recovery.

However, the demands of caregiving often leave little time or resources for proper nutrition. For many, this leads to compromised health, financial strain, and diminished capacity to provide care. Addressing this pressing issue, the Swasthya Ahara program now serves over 8,000 caregivers daily across 32 government and trust-run hospitals in Mumbai.

Akshaya Chaitanya’s #FeedingWithLove campaign underlined the message that love is not just about words but about meaningful actions. By nourishing patient caretakers on Valentine’s Day, the NGO demonstrated its commitment to eradicating hunger in Mumbai.

Vikas Parchhanda, CEO of Akshaya Chaitanya, said, "Through #FeedingWithLove, we aim not only to provide them with nutritious meals but also to remind them that they are valued and cared for. It’s our responsibility to support them, giving them the strength to navigate this difficult time. This initiative is about spreading true love- one plate at a time, nurturing both the heart and body."

Dr. Sangeeta Rawat, dean of KEM Hospital, said, "We deeply appreciate Akshaya Chaitanya’s thoughtful effort to support patient caretakers at KEM Hospital. Many of them travel from the outskirts of Mumbai, Maharashtra, and even other states, often struggling with necessities. By providing them with daily meals, this initiative not only ensures their well-being but also helps them save around Rs200 per day, which can instead be used for their loved one’s medication.”