PUNE: Last week, in a heartwarming Christmas initiative, With Love NGO brought 40 children with special needs from the Society for the Education of the Challenged Naigaon, Kamshet, and their caregivers to Pune for their first-ever city visit.
The day began with a quiet moment of devotion at the Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir, where many of the children experienced a large urban temple for the very first time.
The highlight of the afternoon was a celebratory lunch at Elephant & Co., made possible through the efforts of Minoti Makim of Carpe Diem. Minoti believes, “Christmas isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about showing up for those who need joy and community the most. I’m grateful we could do that together.”
The restaurant welcomed the children with an extraordinary, thoughtfully curated food spread—a gesture that spoke of genuine generosity.
Karan, founder of Elephant & Co., shared that hosting the group was “an honour for the team,” adding that creating a special meal for the children was their way of making them “feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated.”
Adding to the festive spirit, Minoti’s friend Yalda chose to celebrate her own birthday with the children. She arrived with Santa Claus, gifts for all, and a cake she cut surrounded by beaming faces.
Dimple Somji, founder of With Love NGO, expressed that the experience was “a first in every sense for the children – their first visit to Pune, their first restaurant meal of this scale, and most importantly, their first feeling of being celebrated by an entire community.”
The day ended with the children returning home carrying gifts, memories, and the warmth of a city that opened its heart to them. The collaboration between individuals and organisations transformed a simple outing into a Christmas they will remember for years.