tsu-naam- i Relief in Chennai

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

 

Hare Krishna. PAMHO. AGTSP. AGTSGG.

 

I would like to thank all the devotees who have responded to our call for

help with rehabilitating the tsunami victims. This Food For Life is keeping

us enthusiastic. We are also doing kirtan and giving people pictures of

Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. We are happy to see children and others join

in the kirtan and we are happy that without any religious barriers, people

are taking prasadam. We are grateful to the devotees who are sending us

donations and keeping us engaged in this transcendental service.

 

We have been doing Food For Life since Sunday when the tsunamis hit. Our

program has been having a very good response. People prefer our hot prasadam

to the packets that are brought to them from hotels. However, they are also

expressing their need for more things such as note books for the children,

vessels for cooking, plastic containers for storing provisions, buckets,

mugs, pots for storing water, blankets and mats.

 

We have worked out the basic requirements like this:

 

1) Pot for cooking rice (aluminium) - Rs. 30/-

2) Cooking pan (aluminium) - Rs. 30/-

3) Plastic pot for storing water - Rs. 30/-

4) Two glasses (stainless steel with

'Hare Krishna' inscribed) - Rs. 25/-

5) Mat (small size for sleeping) - Rs. 20/-

6) Blanket - Rs.130/-

7) 2 Plastic Containers -to store 1 kg. - Rs. 35/-

 

Total one person - Rs.300/-

 

If we were to provide mats and blankets for an entire family (say minimum

three members) then the cost has to be worked out per family.

 

Note books cost Rs.7/- each. We would have to see how many children are

going to school before making this gift. All these gifts will be given only

after one week as right now the affected people feel that the 'big bullies'

are grabbing all the goodies.

 

Many shops here are willing to give a good discount as we have said we will

be buying in large numbers and they also understand that this is a service

for the tsunami victims. The prices mentioned above are after discount.

 

We would like to start with rehabilitating the areas closest to the temple,

and then move on from there. We have asked the Village Officer for the

statistics.

 

So far we have been doing only kichdi/lemon rice/pongal food for life. Since

many people are again and again asking for special items, we will add a

pakora or pappad to the prasadam.

 

Please check our website www.iskconchennai.com for all details regarding our

relief work and photographs. There is a Relief Diary with description of our

daily Food For Life.

 

Each day we are going to different affected localities and studying the

situation. Affected people themselves direct us to worse localities

requesting us to help there, saying "the police will not let others go

there. But they will let you. So, please go". In this way, we are moving on

to more and more badly affected interior areas.

 

If you would like to send a donation to help

 

Donations can be sent to us in three ways:

 

1) donations in India can be deposited into our ICICI account

NO.603301107599 (ISKCON)

 

2) donations outside India can be sent in the following ways:

 

a) Send to FFL Global through their website www.ffl.org

(mentioning that the amount is to be sent to ISKCON Chennai for FFL

in Chennai)

 

b) deposited into the account of HH Bhanu Swami's personal account:

Name :Bhanu Sato

Ac no :603301502482

Branch : ICICI Besant Nagar

 

c) sending by Western Union, in which case, these details will be

required:

 

Name : Sumithra Krishna Das

Address: 59 , Burkit Road ,

T.Nagar, Chennai - 600017

Driving Licence ID ( R/TN/009/005277/1997 ).

 

 

My mobile No:938 106 3234.

 

Thanking you very much,

 

Your servant,

Sumithra Krishna das

Temple President.