You Empower Society

The holy month of Ramadan is celebrated across the world as a time of prayer, fasting, and reflection. It is a spiritual journey that teaches discipline, patience, and most importantly, compassion for those less fortunate. Beyond its spiritual significance, Ramadan is also a season of sharing—when communities come together to ensure that no one is left hungry or neglected. In 2021, as the world was still recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of families in rural and semi-urban India struggled with food insecurity. Daily wage earners, widows, elderly citizens, and marginalized groups found it particularly difficult to meet their basic needs. In such a situation, You Empower Society (YES), a charitable trust based in West Bengal, stepped forward with an act of kindness that carried immense meaning for many households. On the occasion of Ramadan, YES organized a Ration Kit Distribution Drive at Uttar Mokamberia, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. The initiative brought hope, relief, and dignity to families struggling to put meals on their tables. This was not merely a distribution program—it was a celebration of solidarity, reminding us that humanity shines brightest when we stand together. About You Empower Society Founded with a vision of creating a more inclusive and empowered society, You Empower Society works at the grassroots level to uplift marginalized communities. The trust focuses on various areas including: Education for underprivileged children Skill development and livelihood support Healthcare and hygiene awareness Women empowerment Community relief programs during natural disasters and difficult times What makes YES unique is its people-centric approach. Rather than offering charity alone, the organization emphasizes empowerment—helping individuals and families gain confidence, dignity, and sustainable support. The Ramadan Ration Kit Distribution 2021 was a continuation of the trust’s mission to serve humanity without barriers of caste, creed, or religion. Background: Why Ration Distribution Was Needed South 24 Parganas, a district of West Bengal, is a region known for its rural landscapes, agricultural communities, and fishing livelihoods. While culturally vibrant, the district has long struggled with poverty and lack of infrastructure. Many families rely on daily wage labor or small-scale farming, making them vulnerable to economic shocks. The COVID-19 pandemic only made matters worse. Lockdowns, loss of jobs, and health crises left many households without regular income. Families already living on the margins faced the grim reality of food insecurity. Ramadan, a month where meals become even more important—beginning with sehri (pre-dawn meal) and ending with iftar (breaking the fast)—posed a challenge for these families. To fast with dignity, one needs the assurance of food at home. For many, that assurance was missing. Recognizing this urgent need, You Empower Society decided to organize a ration kit distribution drive during Ramadan. Planning the Ration Kit Drive Behind every successful community initiative lies meticulous planning. The YES team began preparations weeks before the holy month started. 1. Identifying Beneficiaries Local volunteers conducted surveys in Uttar Mokamberia and nearby villages to identify families most in need. Special focus was given to: Widows and elderly citizens Families with no stable income Households impacted by the pandemic Women-headed families with young children 2. Designing the Ration Kits The team ensured that each kit included essential food items to sustain a family during Ramadan. A typical kit contained: Rice Flour Pulses (dal) Cooking oil Sugar Salt & spices Dates (a staple for breaking fast) The selection was made carefully to meet both nutritional and cultural needs of fasting households. 3. Mobilizing Resources With limited funds and growing demand, YES relied on donor support, community contributions, and volunteer efforts. Every small donation mattered, from sacks of rice contributed by well-wishers to funds raised by local supporters. 4. Engaging Volunteers Volunteers played a central role—from packing the kits to setting up the distribution venue. Many of them were young members of the community who wanted to contribute during the holy month. The Event: A Day of Compassion The distribution day was filled with a sense of hope and togetherness. The venue was modest—a table laid out with ration kits, a banner carrying greetings of “Ramadan Mubarak,” and volunteers ready to serve. Women wrapped in colorful saris, elderly men with walking sticks, and children clutching their mothers’ hands slowly gathered at the spot. Despite the hardships on their faces, there was anticipation and relief in their eyes. As each family stepped forward, they were greeted with respect and warmth. The volunteers handed over the ration kits not as charity but as a gesture of solidarity. For the beneficiaries, these kits symbolized more than food—they carried the reassurance that someone cared. The air was filled with gratitude. An elderly woman whispered, “With this support, I can now prepare sehri and iftar for my grandchildren. We will fast without fear of hunger.” Another mother smiled as she held her child, knowing that the dates in her kit would sweeten their iftar. Human Stories Behind the Distribution While numbers can showcase the scale of impact, it is the human stories that reveal the true essence of such initiatives. The Widow’s Relief: A 65-year-old widow, living alone, received a kit with trembling hands. She said this was the first time in years that she felt Ramadan was complete for her. The Mother’s Gratitude: A young mother of three expressed how the ration kit meant her children could have nutritious meals. For her, it was not just about survival but about celebrating Ramadan with dignity. The Volunteer’s Pride: One of the young volunteers said, “Serving my community in Ramadan is the best form of worship. Today, I feel I truly lived the spirit of this holy month.” These personal experiences reflect the broader impact of the program—not just filling stomachs but touching lives with empathy. The Impact The Ramadan Ration Kit Distribution 2021 reached dozens of families in Uttar Mokamberia and surrounding areas. The impact was both immediate and long-lasting: Families had assured meals for several days, enabling them to fast without fear of hunger. The sense of dignity and belonging strengthened community bonds.

The winter of 2022 had begun to settle over the rural heartlands of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, carrying with it a chill that seeped through mud walls, thatched roofs, and worn-out garments. In villages like Bethberia and Ghola, near Canning, the cold nights were especially harsh for those living on the margins—daily wage laborers, widows, elderly villagers, and small children whose families struggled even to afford two meals a day. For them, a blanket was not just a piece of cloth but the difference between a night of shivering discomfort and a night of restful sleep. It was against this backdrop that You Empower Society (Y.E.S.), a charitable trust dedicated to the service of underprivileged communities in West Bengal, organized a Blanket Distribution Program on 22nd December 2022. Over 120 blankets were handed out to the most vulnerable residents of Bethberia and Ghola, bringing warmth, relief, and hope to those who needed it most. The program was not only an act of service but also a reaffirmation of the trust’s belief that empowerment begins with compassion and that no one should be left behind when the basic dignity of life is at stake. The Need for Warmth in Bengal’s Winters Though Bengal is not known for extreme winters like northern India, the season is still a matter of survival for the poor. Temperatures in South 24 Parganas often drop to single digits at night, and the cold winds from the rivers make it worse. Most marginalized families in this region live in temporary structures—mud huts or bamboo shanties with plastic sheets as roofs—that provide little insulation. For families that often cannot afford food, spending money on blankets is unthinkable. Children huddle together under torn shawls, elderly people endure bone-chilling nights, and many continue to work in the cold with barely enough cover. In such circumstances, something as simple as a new blanket becomes a life-saving resource. You Empower Society recognized this pressing need. The trust understood that education programs, health awareness, or skill training—all of which it regularly conducts—cannot have their full impact unless immediate survival challenges are also addressed. Thus, the blanket distribution became part of its broader philosophy: meeting urgent needs while paving the way for long-term empowerment. Preparing for the Distribution The planning for the 22nd December event began weeks earlier. Volunteers and local coordinators from Y.E.S. visited Bethberia and Ghola to understand the ground realities. They met with community elders, women’s groups, and schoolteachers to create a list of families who were most in need of winter relief. The beneficiaries were carefully chosen to include the elderly, widows, daily wage laborers, and families with young children. Funds were raised through donations from well-wishers and supporters of the trust. Some donors contributed money, while others offered in-kind support. Blankets were procured in bulk, ensuring both quality and durability. The trust, as always, maintained full transparency—donors were informed about the procurement process, and records were kept meticulously. For the volunteers, the preparation was as meaningful as the event itself. College students, young professionals, and local residents all joined hands, packing the blankets, preparing distribution lists, and spreading the word in the community. The excitement grew as the date approached, for everyone involved knew that the effort, though modest in scale, would bring immense relief to over a hundred families. The Day of the Event The morning of 22nd December 2022 was crisp and cool, with mist hanging low over the fields of Bethberia. The distribution venue was a simple open space near the village, decorated with banners of You Empower Society. As the volunteers arrived carrying bundles of blankets, villagers began to gather, many of them wrapped in thin cotton sarees or old sweaters. Children peeked curiously from behind their mothers, while elderly men leaned on sticks, waiting patiently. The program began with a short address by a representative of the trust, who spoke about the importance of community solidarity. It was emphasized that this was not an act of charity but an expression of shared humanity—an effort to ensure that no one felt alone in their struggle against the cold. Then, the distribution began. Families were called one by one, and each received a warm blanket, handed over with words of kindness and encouragement. Volunteers helped elderly recipients wrap the blankets around their shoulders immediately, while children squealed with delight as they hugged their new bedding. The atmosphere, though simple, was filled with warmth, not just from the blankets but from the collective spirit of care and compassion. Stories of Hope and Relief Every blanket carried with it a story. There was an elderly widow in Ghola, who lived alone in a mud hut. She had lost her husband years ago and survived on the meager support of neighbors. For her, the blanket meant nights of comfort she had long forgotten. There was a family of daily wage laborers in Bethberia, struggling to feed their children after days without work. Their little ones had been sleeping under torn sheets. When they received a thick, warm blanket, the father’s eyes welled up—he said it was the first time in years that he felt his children would be safe through the winter nights. And then there were school-going children, who often studied in the evenings by lantern light, huddled together to stay warm. The new blankets brought them joy beyond measure, for it meant they could sleep better, wake fresher, and continue their studies without falling sick as often. These were not just blankets—they were symbols of dignity, comfort, and care. Reflections from Volunteers For the volunteers of You Empower Society, the day was life-changing. One student volunteer shared that she had never realized how something as basic as a blanket could mean so much. Another volunteer, a young professional, said that participating in the program gave him a sense of fulfillment far greater than any professional success. They all returned home with hearts full, having seen firsthand the transformative power of simple acts of kindness. The