Hoping for more awareness on food donation: Sneha Mohandoss

The young Visual Communication student, now working in an event management firm, launched the concept of feeding the poor fresh and hot food since 2015

Sneha Mohandoss (27) has been feeding the poor and homeless in this southern metropolis with the help of like-minded people since 2015 when the devastating floods that hit this city.

Chennai Food Bank, an organisation launched by her, received the loudest commendation on Sunday when Sneha, a Visual Communication student who now works at an event management firm, became one of the seven women to take over the official Twitter account of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the International Women’s Day.

In her message after taking over the prime minister’s Twitter account, she wrote: “You heard of food for thought. Now, it is time for action and a better future for our poor. Inspired by my mother, who instilled the habit of feeding the homeless, I started this initiative called Foodbank India. I work with volunteers, many of whom are outside India, to work towards eradicating hunger.”

She also urged everyone to feed at least one needy person and contribute to a “hunger-free planet.”

Sneha told DH, “It is really a great honour for me and Chennai Food Bank as we see this as some kind of recognition for the work; we have been doing for the past five years. I never thought I would be shortlisted to handle the prime minister’s Twitter account. But it happened. I am really thrilled.”

She was nominated by one of her colleagues and a volunteer of Chennai Food Bank, Vipin, last week, after Modi tweeted that he would hand over his social media accounts to women who inspire on Sunday.

A novice on Twitter, Sneha’s followers increased manifold after she tweeted from the prime minister’s official handle. From a mere 200 to more than 10,000 and counting— Sneha said that the new fame would help in many getting to know about the organisation and its activities.

“I was active only on Facebook. The newfound fame will help us take our initiative to new heights. The kind of publicity that we will get here is unimaginable. We hope to feed more people with help from people,” she added.

The Food Bank doesn’t accept money but only materials to cook food— it has been accepting donations from philanthropists and others to conduct mass feeding programmes across the city. It has nearly two dozen chapters across Chennai amid also one in South Africa.