Food for Life Global

[Guest guest]

Food for Life Global was established in 1994 by Mukunda Goswami and myself

to support Food for Life projects all over the world. To date we have

helped numerous temples around the world either start a new FFL program or

improve on what they already had established. FFL Global does this quietly

in the background through correspondence, grants and the creation and

distribution of FFL training and promotional materials.

 

Our office was originally based at the Potomac Temple in Washington DC,

however, we are now based from my home in Gaithersburg, MD, about 20

minutes from the Potomac temple. My wife Radha Seva and I run the office.

Both of us are volunteers. I have my own graphic design and web development

business that maintains our family. My work with FFL is voluntary.

 

Over the last 10 years, FFL Global has networked extensively with the

vegetarian and vegan movements, raising awareness that FFL is the world's

largest vegetarian food relief. As a result of this networking, which

included making presentations about FFL at International Vegetarian

Conferences, many vegetarians around the world now actively support FFL

programs. We receive most of our donations from the vegetarian community

who visit our web site www.ffl.org.

 

Over the last 5 days, thousands of people have visited the FFL Global web

site to donate money to help the Tsunami Relief. As of January 1, 2005 we

have raised more than $15,000 from the web site alone, with much more

expected from checks we will be receiving in the Post Office box. 100% of

these donations are being sent to support the FFL teams in Sri Lanka,

Chennai and any other relief efforts going on to help Tsunami survivors.

Not one penny is being kept for our administration. We routinely collect

all the many small donations we receive throughout the year, and then wire

a bulk donation to needy FFL projects, thus minimizing bank charges and

government beaurocracy.

 

Food for Life Global actually has a membership program that supports any

administration costs we may have throughout the year. Membership is

$35/year. Members receive a t-shirt and sticker and of course all donations

are tax deductible.

 

The response to this disaster has been overwhelming. Many people are

calling our office asking how they can help. Whether its going over their

personally or organizing a food, clothing or water drive at their school,

campus or business. It is very touching to read people's emails. One man

said, "Rock on, this is my last 10 dollars for some time. Put it to good

use." Food for Life Global has set up a Volunteer page that provides some

guidance to those that are not able to donate money at

http://www.ffl.org/html/volunteer.html

 

One other positive thing that has come out of this calamity, is the raised

awareness of Hare Krishna Food for Life. Many prominent web sites are

posting banners and announcements to their site visitors and members to

help Food for Life. It is this kind of appreciation and awareness of the

positive social contributions that ISKCON devotees are making that is an

important part of FFL Global's purpose.

 

We pray that one day FFL Global can fully fund all FFL projects as needed

and that prasadam distribution expands unlimitedly as Srila Prabhupada

desired. We hope you will support us in this mission.

 

The servant of prasadam distributors,

 

Priyavrata das

Food for Life Global

www.ffl.org

 

Ps. Please pass this message on.