Dear Fellow Xaverians,

I write to all of you with a very special request.

As we know, the pandemic due to the spread of COVID-19 has upended our entire society. People's livelihoods are being impacted in substantial ways and there is considerable apprehension that it may be sometime before normalcy returns. As always, the less-privileged sections of society are the worst affected as they lose access to economic security and face tremendous hardships in providing their families with the most basic of necessities. Our education at St. Xavier's School has instilled in all Xaverians a sense of responsibility to reach out and help those in need. This feeling has guided ALSOC in various initiatives such as Sponsor-a-Boy, "Titli" the evening school project, Alsoc Clinic etc.

In particular, Titli, and the associated night school at St. Xavier's have been providing for the educational needs of the less-privileged sections of society in the vicinity of our Alma Mater. Alsoc has been providing funding to operate Titli. 

Today, there are about 600 boys enrolled in both the evening and night schools put together. ALSOC would like to donate to the families of these students a care package comprising food, sanitisers and masks so that we can help them tide over the economic effects of this crisis.

We will be providing each student's family with the following:

• 5 Kg of rice
• 2 Kg of dal
• 2 Kg of potatoes
• 1 Kg of cooking oil
• 1 Kg of salt
• 50 g of chili powder
• 2x 100 ml sanitizer*
• 4x protective washable 100% cotton 2-ply face masks**

*Mr. Probhas Bondhu Chakraborty of the 1994 batch has very kindly agreed to provide ALSOC the sanitiser as a donation. 
The rest of the items will cost us about Rs 700 per package. 
**Face masks are being procured from the Calcutta Foundation's Project Mayuri which is using tailors and women from the impoverished areas of the city. All the proceeds in excess of the material costs are being used by the foundation for relief work including that arising from COVID-19 hardships. See http://www.projectmayuri.com

ALSOC requests your donation and help towards this initiative. To donate, you may transfer funds to our account details as below.

DOMESTIC TRANSFERS ONLY

Account Holder Name: Alumnorum Societas
Bank: Syndicate Bank
Branch: Park Street
Bank Account Type: Savings
Bank Account No.: 95852010012330
IFSC Code: SYNB0009585
Please put "Alsoc Cares" in the remarks field

You can also make payment through the ALSOC mobile app for iOS or Android. (Download the App at https://onelink.to/Alsoc)

• From the App Left Side menu , choose the Payment option, then 
• Under Type of Payment, choose "Contributions"
• Under Type of Contribution, choose "ALSOC Cares"

The App will allow you to pay using credit cards, net banking, various wallets such as PAYTM etc., and the UPI payment system. 

I earnestly request each one of you to contribute generously to this initiative. 

Thank you.

Shiv Siddhant Kaul
Honorary Secretary.