Report by OD bureau, Bhubaneswar: The Joy of Giving Week (Oct 2- 8) is a national festival of giving and a platform to inspire and encourage the spirit of giving in society. Bakul Foundation, being a movement for volunteerism, and a platform where people contribute, has naturally taken the lead in Odisha to celebrate the Joy of Giving Week. The last 2 years, Bakul has been organizing a Collection Drive of used clothes, books and toys on a huge scale during the Joy of Giving Week.

Bakul Foundation in association with the WCD Dept, Govt of Odisha, Young Indians (Yi) and GPIL is kickstarting the Joy of Giving Week celebrations in Odisha by celebrating 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanti) as a Day of Service. 

Bakul mobilized close to 1000 volunteers in 26 cities of India to go to orphanages/old age homes and anganwadis and do fun/art activities and spread joy among the children/elderly. In Bhubaneswar itself, there were in all the 11 orphanages and in 15 Anganwadis.

Ms Arti Ahuja, Secretary, Women and Child Development Dept, Govt of Odisha and Jiten Gupta, Chair, Young Indians along with Sujit Mahapatra of Bakul Foundation kickstarted the activities at the Aurobindo Colony near BJB Nagar, where a toy bank was set up in addition to fun/art activities.