We're done! Nearly 5000 kids, 5 lakh rupees and 143 donors later, I figured I ought to give you guys an update about what actually happened on the big day.
My day began at 6:50 a.m, considerably earlier than my usual waking time on a holiday. My phone's ringtone cut into my slumber. One of the volunteers was calling me to ask for details about their orphanage. Seeing as it was nearly seven, I figured I might as well get dressed and prepare for the day ahead of me.
The deliveries really began around 8:30. I was standing in a spirit-sapping drizzle at our neighbourhood Independence Day celebration, trying, like all the other attendees, to look like I wouldn't prefer to be inside with a hot cup of tea and something satisfyingly deep-fried. As the flag was being hoisted, my phone vibrated in my pocket, and I picked it up. Farooq from McDonald's was calling to let me know that the first delivery was on time. One short, hushed conversation later, I got back to looking suitably grave as the flag reached the pinnacle of its pole.
The first delivery I was actually present at was in Dickenson Road, in the Muslim Orphanage. It was the first Independence Day event I have been present at where India's secularity was praised more than the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, although of course, there was plenty said about that, too. The rain was still a-pourin', but the McDonald's truck still had quite a bit of trouble getting into the place because of the kids who gathered around the vehicle that was bringing what was, for a lot of them, their first-ever burger.
433 smiling kids later, I found myself seated next to the driver of the McDonald's truck, who had very kindly agreed to drop me home. I was looking forward to a nice, hot meal and spending the rest of my day out of the rain, taking calls and coordinating deliveries. After I ate, though, I found myself feeling considerably energised, so I headed off to yet another orphanage in Shivajinagar. The truck driver, an incredibly nice guy, was more than a little surprised to see me at yet another orphanage. We made our next 25 deliveries and got a picture with the kids. It was still fairly early, so I decided to go on a few more deliveries. I climbed into the back of the truck and went with them on the next few deliveries, then headed home.
Now, before I end this post, I want to thank, in alphabetical order, Anirudh Iyengar, Arnav Poddar, Arnav Singh, Atul Mugarimangalam, Impana Halgeri, Jayitha VSS, Shreya Narayan, Susannah Alexander, Ujwal K P and Yashas Murthy, the volunteers. You guys are awesome, and none of this would have been possible without your help. I'd also like to give the guys over at McDonald's a huge shout-out for being incredibly patient and dealing with the million little mistakes we made while planning this. It's been an incredible experience, and I hope everyone else thought this was as awesome as I did.
My day began at 6:50 a.m, considerably earlier than my usual waking time on a holiday. My phone's ringtone cut into my slumber. One of the volunteers was calling me to ask for details about their orphanage. Seeing as it was nearly seven, I figured I might as well get dressed and prepare for the day ahead of me.
The deliveries really began around 8:30. I was standing in a spirit-sapping drizzle at our neighbourhood Independence Day celebration, trying, like all the other attendees, to look like I wouldn't prefer to be inside with a hot cup of tea and something satisfyingly deep-fried. As the flag was being hoisted, my phone vibrated in my pocket, and I picked it up. Farooq from McDonald's was calling to let me know that the first delivery was on time. One short, hushed conversation later, I got back to looking suitably grave as the flag reached the pinnacle of its pole.
The first delivery I was actually present at was in Dickenson Road, in the Muslim Orphanage. It was the first Independence Day event I have been present at where India's secularity was praised more than the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, although of course, there was plenty said about that, too. The rain was still a-pourin', but the McDonald's truck still had quite a bit of trouble getting into the place because of the kids who gathered around the vehicle that was bringing what was, for a lot of them, their first-ever burger.
433 smiling kids later, I found myself seated next to the driver of the McDonald's truck, who had very kindly agreed to drop me home. I was looking forward to a nice, hot meal and spending the rest of my day out of the rain, taking calls and coordinating deliveries. After I ate, though, I found myself feeling considerably energised, so I headed off to yet another orphanage in Shivajinagar. The truck driver, an incredibly nice guy, was more than a little surprised to see me at yet another orphanage. We made our next 25 deliveries and got a picture with the kids. It was still fairly early, so I decided to go on a few more deliveries. I climbed into the back of the truck and went with them on the next few deliveries, then headed home.
Now, before I end this post, I want to thank, in alphabetical order, Anirudh Iyengar, Arnav Poddar, Arnav Singh, Atul Mugarimangalam, Impana Halgeri, Jayitha VSS, Shreya Narayan, Susannah Alexander, Ujwal K P and Yashas Murthy, the volunteers. You guys are awesome, and none of this would have been possible without your help. I'd also like to give the guys over at McDonald's a huge shout-out for being incredibly patient and dealing with the million little mistakes we made while planning this. It's been an incredible experience, and I hope everyone else thought this was as awesome as I did.
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