A motley group of Calcuttans has started a drive to collect unused food from restaurants, hotels and caterers and give it to people who often struggle to make two square meals.

Individuals and a handful of organisations have been feeding the poor for the past few years, especially since the pandemic. But the latest initiative promises to bring many donors under the same umbrella and up the scale.

Kolkata We Care, billed as a "food ATM", will begin from the CIT Road (Sundari Mohan Avenue) outlet of restaurant chain Sanjha Chulha.

A freezer at the eatery has been earmarked for the project. Excess food from parties, restaurants and hotels will be transported to the eatery before they are distributed.

"We keep getting calls from hotels, restaurants and caterers about excess food. They want to give it to needy people. Many establishments already do it on their own. This drive aims to bring such individual initiatives under one roof. We will take a lot of care in ensuring that the food is fresh," said Imran Zaki, one of those behind the drive.

"The outlet on CIT Road is the first. We are planning to set up similar ATMs at several other places in Calcutta, like Gariahat and New Ballygunge," said Zaki.

Several NGOs and clubs — that work for people living in slums and shanties across the city — are on board for the project. Individually, they keep feeding people regularly. The new food initiative will extend a helping hand to such organisations.

Volunteers of the NGOs and clubs will monitor people who come to receive the food. There is no provision to eat at the spot. People will be asked to carry the food home.

"I have been feeding needy people for five years now. But I have limited resources. If many people come together, the scale inevitably goes up," said Asif Ahmed, owner of Sanjha Chulha.

Oasis, an old favourite on Park Street, will also send food to the project.

"We have a lot of excess food every day. By excess food, I mean food that does not make it to the plates of diners. That food will be taken to the food ATM," said Pratap Daryanani, the owner of Oasis.

Vinod Kohli of Kohli Catering Services is also on board.

"When we have an order for 500 people, the actual headcount is often around 450. The food is fresh but preserving it is a problem. The food ATM offers a genuine solution to this problem," said Kohli.

One of the organisers said multiple individuals and corporate organisations had pledged support to the initiative, as have educational institutions.

"Some of them already prepare fresh food for the needy," said Zaki.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation and police are assisting the organisers in the initiative.