Providing succour to the needy

Aiming to fight hunger and malnutrition in the country, KFC India launched 'Add Hope' initiative on Wednesday to create awareness and raise funds to provide meals to underprivileged children. The programme expects to provide 20 million meals by 2020.

The company will do this with the help of three partners -- World Food Program (WFP), Akshaya Patra Foundation and India Food Banking Network (IFBN).

"One out of every four children in India is malnourished. We are a food company and it's our privilege and responsibility to address the issue of hunger where millions of children go days without a proper meal," said Rahul Shinde, managing director, KFC India.

Starting May 16, consumers can feed a hungry child by adding Rs 5 to their bill. KFC employees in the 300+ restaurants around the country will also support local communities through volunteerism.

Rahul Shinde flagged off the ‘KFC add HOPE’ truck that will travel across the country distributing food grains at IFBN feeding sites. At Hyderabad, the truck was loaded with food grains donated by KFC employees and Kohinoor Foods Limited.

Dr Hameed Nuru, Representative and Country Director, UN World Food Programme India, added, “WFP’s collaboration with the KFC aims to highlight and drive action in the movement towards ending world hunger.

A valued and collaborative partnership, it has been critical in addressing the challenges in India and also highlights the significant contribution that the private sector is making towards food and nutritional security through CSR.”

Vandana Singh, CEO at Food Security Foundation India, India Food Banking Network, said “Our mission to provide food to India’s underprivileged echoes with KFC’s add HOPE initiative.

We share a common vision for eliminating hunger, and are confident that this partnership will contribute to sustain the food banking movement in India.”