They were not content with sharing each others’ posts on Facebook. They wanted to share their time with the poor and the suffering.
The five pals met at a Facebook collective in Thrissur in 2012. M R Gopakumar, the general manager of Santhimadham, came from North Paravur, while advocate T.N. Sreelatha and Juvenile Justice Board member Smitha Satheesh came from Thrissur. They were joined by Mridu Jacob, a beautician from Wadakkancherry and Nithin Joy, an IT engineer in Bahrain.
They were brought together by their common concerns about the sufferings of the people they met in the daily grind. Gopakumar was always doing his bit by taking meal boxes to poor patients admitted to various hospitals. Sreelatha was a frequent visitor to old-age homes. Smitha used to conduct counselling sessions for differently abled children free of cost.
The five altruists wanted their friendship to develop as a platform to help someone. ‘Panch, Wings of Care’ was formed for the purpose. They saved a part of their monthly income for charity. The group drew the support of like-minded friends who pitched in with resources.
They stared by organizing an ayurvedic medical camp and medicine distribution at an old-age home in Thrissur. They distributed mattresses and toys to children in an orphanage.
The collective distributes books and study materials to 250 children and takes care of the studies of three orphaned children every year. They also distribute medicine to patients suffering from cancer and other diseases.
Their efforts have given some gratifying moments to them and succour to a few others. Yousuf in Thrissur has the group to thank for his house and job. They have even saved a young mother on the verge of suicide after the death of her husband left her saddled with debts.
They came across the plight of a family that languished in a dilapidated house without food or medicine through a report on Manorama. They have ensured that the three patients in the family are assured of proper medical care.
Wings of Care is active in many remote places in Kerala, including Attappadi. They said that they had been receiving a lot of mails and emails with pleas for help, which are most often beyond their resources.