Members of Atchayam Trust have been distributing free food to the destitutes in the city for the last two days. They are preparing 500 packets each of sambar rice and curd rice a day, NGO founder Navin Kumar told TOI. “We rented vessels and bought grocery out of our own pockets. Before launching the drive, we obtained permission from Erode collector C Kathiravan . The collector issued identity cards for the members involved.” Office bearers of the trust V Balaji, Balamurugan, Niresh, S Balaji, Hariharan and others carry the food in a van. “We go around the city and give the food packets to homeless people including alms seekers, ragpickers and people with learning disabilities,” Kumar said. “We will continue food distribution until April 14.” The NGO members are also distributing food at Kumarapalayam and Pallipalayam in Namakkal district