THE GOOD WILL STORE – 2.0 at Sangareddy Municipality

"Not every body can be famous. But every body can be great, because greatness is determined by service.....You only need heart full of grace and a soul generated by love."Mckinsey report reveals that '56% of Indian cannot afford decent life'. Which means cannot afford basic minimum needs of life- food, cloth and    shelter.I always wanted to share old clothes and old stuff, in usable condition at my home to needy people, but with great effort could find few who exactly need the stuff I have. When this volume at home started bulging as so my thoughts. Initially I used to drive all the stuff to Goonj an NGO near bandlaguda almost 25 kms away from my home, who are totally into it and really serve the poor people anything like books, clothes, toys and it’s just voluntary.During my child hood on average middle-class Indians (who are majority) used to buy yearly two to three pairs of clothes on one or two major festivals and birthday. But scenario is been totally changed with 1990 s economic reforms. LPG paved way to shoot up income levels, opened gates to access more goods and services both in availability & affordability.  Now this scenario has been changed to 'any time' & ' anything'.

Though India has bulged economy, fancy economic figures like GDP, per capita income etc  not just sky rocketing but competing with world’s top countries. It is projected to be a top economy in the world soon. Many world’s top billionaires are from India, but still economic disparities making POOR scenario worse. Indians living below the statistical mark of spending Rs.22.42 ($0.35) per person per day in rural areas and Rs.28.65 ($0.45) in cities misses a large swath of the population. Many people can afford to spend more than that but are nevertheless unable to take care of their basic needs. So there is a need of sharing.

I have seen WALL OF KINDNESS (started in Iran for the first time and followed by many countries) across certain parts of India where a wall on the main road is painted with a note to donate any thing there and needy to take. But all those walls were empty, not really working. Then I though it must be weather proof, there must be some volunteer to manage, organize.

 ‘THE GOOD WILL STORE ’ was conceived to experiment at Waranagal in Kazipet circle. Unused space under the stair case was used for storing used and usable things and to display for the needy. And it worked. Little improvised version, I would love to call it as ‘‘THE GOOD WILL STORE- 2.0’ started in sangareddy, in front of 1000 bedded Govt hospital where foot fall from entire district is very high, just beside old bus station. 

Tough challenge was to get contributions for shed, racks and stuff for it. People of sangareddy responded timely though they did not buy in and believed my concept initially, built a 10 X 6 shed well painted and few racks in it. I and My staff initially placed some stuff and waited for some time.

First, it caught media focus, they started scripting articles in press.It was amazing to see the flood of materials into our store  soon, proving if there is a WILL there is a WAY. Without much publicity much appeals it organically started and picked up the momentum.  Arranged our municipal employee to manage it. Every day gunny bags full of stuff started flowing in & our estimation about access to needy about the location was cent percent correct. More than twenty beneficiaries average per day are pleased to take this stuff. Feel so humane, satisfied, pleasured when ever see its running.

It does not just reflect about serving under privileged, proving that humans have still humanity to share and care but  also contributes to a biggest challenge of Indian urban local bodies i.e solid waste management. Often, we see drains are blocked with mattresses, clothes, gunny bags etc. Especially old clothes are thrown everywhere.

Recently customised refrigerator is also added by kind donors where left over food at our homes, during festivals, functions and hotels restaurants can be shared here again served to the needy. So, food and clothes, A small helping hand to the needy.

Every day we receive minimum 4,5 bags full of clothes, books and other stuff..and on average 15-20 needy collect stuff. 

Because of lot of donations we are planning another store on highway.

https://youtu.be/BfPZHztaDWY