Urgent Relief Needed for Tamil Nadu Tsunami and Earthquake Victims

Jahnava Nitai Das · December 29, 2004

Please forward this urgent appeal to all your friends and relatives.

Urgent Relief Needed for Tamil Nadu

Tsunami and Earthquake Victims

[ Instructions for donating below; all donations are 501©3 tax deductable. ]

http://www.foodrelief.org

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[ More photos at the bottom of this page. ]

Dear friends and devotees,

Jaya Sri Rama. Please accept my humble pranams.

We are all very saddened about the terrible devastation that has fallen on our brothers and sisters in South India and other parts of the world.

In response to the recent tsunami, the Bhaktivedanta Ashram is arranging a team of volunteers in Tamil Nadu to begin relief work to help the victims. Relief activities are expected to begin on Thursday, December 30th. Within several days an additional team of volunteers from our Orissa ashram will join them to provide further relief supplies including basic necessities for children and their families. Due to the long term effects of this disaster, the Bhaktivedanta Ashram plans to open a permanent relief center in Chennai so that relief activities can continue even after the immediate media attention dies down. With our past experience of the Orissa cyclone in 1999 we know that such disasters lead to long term difficulties for the victims that continue even after the relief organizations leave. With that in mind we are planning to maintain our relief center in Tamil Nadu permanently so that we can continue caring for those in need, especially the children who are affected by this disaster.

Reports indicate that the death toll in India has reached over 12,500 so far, with children accounting for up to a third of all the dead. Health reports state that the spread of disease could kill as many people in the coming weeks.

In such a situation with millions of displaced people suffering in need of food and clothing it seems an impossible task, but we should not let this discourage us. Let every one of us help in whatever little way we can.

We humbly request all those with sufficient means to donate towards the tsunami relief work in Tamil Nadu. To donate by credit card you may visit our website and enter your donation through our secure server:

http://www.foodrelief.org

Donations may also by sent by check made payable to "Bhaktivedanta International Charities" with the words 'Tamil Nadu Relief' in the memo field:

Bhaktivedanta International Charities

P.O.Box 34153

Los Angeles, CA 90034

United States of America

I would like to again thank all of our friends and donors who have contributed towards our projects in the past and request everyone to offer whatever service they can, regardless of how small, to help this urgent cause.

Yours in service,

Jahnava Nitai Das,

Bhaktivedanta Ashram &

Bhaktivedanta International Charities

http://www.foodrelief.org

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Avinash · December 30, 2004

I and my colleagues collected some amount and sent it as part of the relief fund today. Tomorrow we will bring clothes, utensils etc. to be sent for the benefit of the quake-affected people. I and some others here were planning to send more money once we get our salaries. (which will happen around 7 Jan).

A little while back I checked my mailbox and saw your mail. Then I visited this site. I went to the link provided by you. It contains address of US office. If I remember correctly, several months back, you had posted a message in which you had written that those residing in India can send to an address in India itself. Is that still valid? If so, then please let us know that address again.

Jahnava Nitai Das · December 30, 2004

I'm sorry for forgetting to include the information for donating within India on the webpage. I have since updated it.

If you live within India, you can deposit donations at any branch of HDFC Bank throughout India. Use the bank's deposit slip or envelope, and make the cheque/demand draft out to "Bhaktivedanta Ashram Trust". Include our account number on the deposit slip: Account No. 2361450000022. (Demand drafts can be made payable at your local city where you deposit the donation.) You may leave the donation (attached to the deposit slip) in the deposit drop box; there is no need for you to wait in the queue.

If there is no branch of HDFC Bank in your city, you can send the donation to us by post. Please send it by Registered Post to the following address (if sending a DD, please make it payable at Cuttack, Orissa):

Bhaktivedanta Ashram,

At - Kuansh,

P.O. - Bhadrak,

District - Bhadrak

Pin - 756 100

Orissa

You do not need to specify that it should be used for the Tamil Nadu relief, as we will be directing all general donations we receive towards that cause for the next several months.