Krsna’s Free Meals initiative aims to nourish lives, foster community, and expand its reach across Singapore.
Singapore, May 15 – An Indian-origin former educator, Latha Govindasamy, and her family have served an astounding 10 million free meals to migrant workers, mostly from India and Bangladesh, through their initiative, Krsna’s Free Meals, a soup kitchen they founded in 2018.Motivated by the difficulty migrant workers face in accessing authentic and affordable Indian food in the Little India district, Govindasamy, along with her two sisters and their husbands, began providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner—completely free of charge—to the underserved worker community. The initiative, inspired by their parents' values of sharing and gratitude, quickly grew into a vital lifeline for many.
Community Support Fuels Expansion
Initially funded from the family's own savings, the initiative gained broader support in 2019 when workers began contributing 50 cents each per meal. This small contribution not only helped with operations but also instilled a sense of belonging among the workers.When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, community awareness surged. Recognising that the soup kitchen relied heavily on personal funds, many Singaporeans came forward with donations and offers to volunteer.
“We started having walk-in donations and people calling up and asking how they could help. So now, we put up all the ingredients we need for that week on Instagram every Monday,” Govindasamy shared.
A Vision for Greater Impact
Looking ahead, the family aims to expand Krsna’s Free Meals beyond Little India into Singapore’s heartlands—public housing estates known for their diverse communities. Plans are underway to establish a central kitchen and possibly install vending machines to distribute free meals, particularly to senior citizens.Govindasamy believes in spreading cheer through authentic, wholesome food and hopes the initiative continues to touch more lives. “Giving the workers food that reminds them of home, without compromising on taste, brings them joy. That’s what we want to continue doing—on a bigger scale.”
The initiative remains a testament to community-driven kindness and the power of shared meals in forging deeper human connections.