While most Sunday mornings in Mumbai begin with leisure, Pooja and Dipesh Dedhia start theirs in the pre-dawn hours, cooking breakfast for over 100 people. Their grassroots initiative, the Matoshreee Foundation, has quietly become a vital source of food and community support for daily wage workers and others facing hardship.
- Serve 100+ people freshly cooked breakfast every Sunday
- Over 15,000 meals provided since inception
- Commitment rooted in personal and community compassion
What happened
In their Mumbai home, Pooja and Dipesh Dedhia begin their Sunday mornings at 4 AM to prepare breakfast for more than 100 people. They established the Matoshreee Foundation in July 2023, a mission to serve wholesome meals to daily wage workers and those in need. Over the past three years of commitment, they have served more than 15,000 meals without missing a single Sunday.
The initiative grew quickly with support from donors who sponsor breakfasts for meaningful occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. The couple plans the weekly menu days ahead and manages every step of the cooking and serving process entirely on their own, with no external helpers.
Why it feels good
Dipesh’s motivation stems from a personal experience in infancy when he urgently needed help and received it from an unknown source. This inspired him to extend kindness to others without limiting it to any particular community or religion, emphasizing universal humanity. For Pooja, a trained chef and nutritionist, cooking these meals is a way to nurture both body and spirit within the community.
Their dedication embodies a quiet form of social care—consistent and personal. Many beneficiaries come back week after week not only for the food but for the certainty and connection that the couple provides. Their weekly breakfast becomes a symbol of reliability and kindness in a bustling city life.
What to enjoy or watch next
The Matoshreee Foundation offers a simple yet powerful example of how community-driven kindness can create meaningful impact. For those inspired by their story, supporting similar grassroots initiatives or volunteering with local food programs can extend this spirit of giving. Watching for updates from the Dedhias and similar changemakers can provide ongoing inspiration.
Exploring how food initiatives enhance community bonds can be rewarding, whether through volunteering, donating, or sharing stories. Keeping an eye on local efforts like Sunday community meals may provide opportunities to connect with your neighborhoods while spreading kindness through action.