In 2012 Shobana Kumar was approached by a Sri Lankan refugee for help. And, she helped. It was just the beginning of making a difference in someone’s life. This made her think that if she could help one person what if many like-minded people came together. They could, together, help several people.

Thus, a Coimbatore-centric Facebook group ‘Small Differences’ was born from Shobhana’s laptop and it has been four year’s now that this group has been pitching in, in cash and in kind and making a difference in many people’s lives.

“Small Differences is what it is today because of the support from friends and well wishers. Whenever we have made a request for help, in cash or in kind, we have received,” says Shobhana.

Every Saturday, the members of this closed Facebook group meet and distribute food packets to the needy in a particular area in the city.

Shobhana shares with us that during times of natural calamities or disaster, the members of ‘Small Differences’ raise funds to help the victims. During the earthquake that hit Nepal, Rs. 1 lakh was collected in a single day and sent to the victims. During the recent Chennai floods more than a lakh was collected.

Having worked to rehabilitate transgenders, the homeless, orphans and the elderly, ‘Small Differences’ has partnered with Coimbatore-based NGO, Helping Hearts for managing a hospice.

“The Corporation has given us a building to house people. Considering that most people in the Government hospital’s abandoned ward – whom we support with breakfast and dinner – are in their last days of life, we thought, why not set up a hospice for them and give them the dignity they deserve, at least in death,” says Shobhana.

This hospice is located in Poosaripalayam, off the Vedapatti road, in Coimbatore. ‘Small Differences’ invites those interested in making a difference in people’s lives to join as volunteers. This group also accepts donations in cash and in kind.