A Chain of Giving, One Meal at a Time

 There are no free lunches, they say, but what if there are exceptions? Kindness Kitchen, started by Naresh and Nirmala Jogu, doesn't ask for money for meals, but just your presence. Imagine a picnic where you chop vegetables, cook a delicious meal, and serve others, while chatting with people who are there for the same shared purpose.

Explaining how they came up with the concept, Naresh says: “The concept of Kindness Kitchen was born from a desire to reimagine what it means to gather, share, and support one another in a world often driven by transactions and expectations. I found myself reflecting on how rare it has become to experience generosity without strings attached. Inspired by the idea of “paying it forward” and traditions of communal meals in various cultures, I began to envision a space where food could be the bridge — not just to nourish the body, but to connect hearts.”

The couple helped organise such a gathering at a friend’s place in Hyderabad recently.

participation

The couple, who have roots in Telangana, explains how one can be part of Kindness Kitchen: “Guests fill up the registration form seen on social media. Volunteers call each guest to confirm their presence and share the address of the host. All guests are volunteers. Everyone cooks together, learns together from each other and then serves each other. At the end, everyone has an opportunity to keep the chain alive and pay it forward with money, time or other expressions of wealth for future guests. There is no pressure—only an open invitation to participate in the circle of giving,” adds Naresh.