MADURAI: B Selvam of Narimedu in the city draws barely Rs 9,000 a month as salary and is the sole breadwinner of his family.
However, he has been spending a part of the amount towards feeding abandoned people in the streets.
Six of his friends have also joined him.
A contract employee at a private firm, Selvam spared Rs 1,000 from his salary.
His six friends also clubbed together from their monthly earnings.
While Selvam has completed class XII, his friends are mostly graduates looking for jobs who take up odd jobs to eke out Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000 a month.
They have fed more than 2,000 people in the last 20 days and still have Rs 8,000 in hand, which is sufficient to feed 400 more for four days.
“During the lockdown, I saw people looking for food and decided to do something for them,” Selvam said.
Selvam and P Balamurugan, K Kirubakaran, N Ramajeyam, M Sakthi, N Mani and U Rajendran collected the utensils required to cook for 100 people on rent and started preparing food at Selvam’s house.
His wife S Pandiselvi is also helping them.
Many contributed sums of Rs 100 and Rs 200.
On seeing photos in social media, a few people from other districts and states too have contributed, they said.