Lend a hand

Good intentions, spacious premises and a surfeit of clothes for distribution are not always enough to run a charitable organization as the indomitable Dhun Baria has found. Her Nargisbanu Darabsha Baria Zoroastrian Foundation (NDBZF) established around six years ago in memory of her mother managed to acquire an office at the Chandanwadi Municipal Primary School building, behind the H. B. Wadia Atash Bahram. Running from municipal office to office even carrying files personally from desk to desk to hasten the procedures and wearing out several pairs of slippers, Baria said she was able to acquire two large airy rooms on the second floor from which to run the trust. The rooms were in a dilapidated condition but the intrepid lady soon did them up, transporting some of the furniture from her former home in Navsari. Several cabinets she bought from a Parsi lady disposing off her furniture.

The NDBZF’s objects as stated on her visiting card are to assist "underprivileged children, blind, handicapped and HIV patients.” Aside from Baria other trustees are noted solicitor Berjis Desai, lawyer Nosh Modi, Kerssie Wadia of the Association for Revival of Zoroastrianism (ARZ) and chartered accountant Shiva Iyer.

Ever since Perviz Hall in Dadar stopped collecting and distributing old clothes Baria stepped in and now has a room full of clothes to give away. But the woman who set the media buzzing with her exposè on Doongerwadi says she needs socially minded individuals to assist her in her endeavors. Anybody wishing to lend a helping hand may contact her at tel: 22084995, 23009359, mobile: 9987844471, e-mail: ndbzf@yahoo.com