An Appeal by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
BGR began in 2008 when a small group of us—myself along with some friends and students—discussed the need for Buddhists to take on a more active role in tackling the momentous challenges facing humanity in a world that still sees glaring violations of the decrees of social and economic justice. As a result of our discussions, we decided to form an organization that could help people in need escape the scourge of devastating poverty and food insecurity.
We chose chronic hunger as our mission because it has deep roots in the Dharma. The Buddha said “there is no illness like hunger.” He praised the blessings of offering food, and said that a conscientious person would share his or her last morsel of food if there was a needy person present to receive it. When close to a billion people globally struggle each day just to obtain enough to eat, we felt impelled to help those we could reach find a way to escape chronic hunger and thereby lead lives of dignity and purpose.
Through the kindness and generosity of our many supporters, our efforts have far exceeded our expectations.
We launched BGR in June 2008 with three pilot projects. Over the years, in response to our initial success, donations have steadily flowed in, enabling us to expand the number and range of our projects until we now sponsor about forty projects a year.
Our projects span four major areas: food assistance, education for poor girls and young women, right livelihood opportunities for women, and ecologically sustainable agriculture. They take place in countries all around the world, ranging from far-flung Mongolia to pockets of poverty right here in the United States.
As most of you already know, since 2010, our main fundraising activity has been an annual “Walk to Feed the Hungry.” In recent years, we’ve been holding ten annual walks from coast to coast, with satellite walks in the U.K., Uganda, and India. Most of the U.S. walks have taken place in the autumn, from late September through early November.
This year, as was inevitable, the COVID-19 pandemic prevents us from holding these walks—with the exception of the walk in Connecticut, where the danger of viral transmission is almost non-existent. In place of the other walks, we are launching a new initiative, called “Buddhist Action to Feed the Hungry.” This will be a network of online events around the country intended to mobilize American Buddhists and friends of Buddhism everywhere, wherever they may live, to join us in taking compassionate action to combat chronic hunger and malnutrition.
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| Children in Cameroon thank BGR for school lunches |
Most online events will be held in October (and one in November), when sanghas and Buddhist centers across the U.S. will host live-streamed dharma gatherings featuring talks about global hunger, short videos about BGR projects, dharma talks by noted Buddhist teachers, and guided meditations. There will be several regional events as well as a national event that will replace the New York City walk.
A list of the events can be found at the end of this message, with more details on our website here.
We would like to urge readers of this newsletter to join at least one of these online events—if not several—and to contribute generously to the support of BGR.
If you are not familiar with our work, you can learn more about BGR, and about the wonderful ways it has been uplifting lives all around the world, through this short video.
Through each event page on the website you will be able to share the event and encourage friends and family to donate. As an example, see the Buddhist Action National Event page here.
For details about how to create a Facebook fundraiser, click here.
I thank you in advance for taking action with us to relieve the suffering of thousands of people in need in the U.S. and around the world!
With blessings,
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
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Action to Feed the Hungry Events
BGR National Buddhist Action to Feed the Hungry Online Gathering
October 24 • 1–3 p.m. Eastern
Online • USA
Berkeley Action to Feed the Hungry Online Gathering
October 3 • 1–3 p.m. Pacific
Online • Berkeley, CA
Connecticut Walk to Feed the Hungry
October 3 • 10 a.m. Eastern
Collinsville, CT
Houston Buddhist Action to Feed the Hungry Online Gathering
October 11 • 11:30 a.m.–2 pm Central
Online • Houston, TX
Sravasti Abbey Action to Feed the Hungry Online Gathering
October 17 • 1–3 p.m. Pacific
Online • Newport, WA
St. Louis Buddhist Action to Feed the Hungry Online Gathering
November 15 • 1–3 p.m. Central
Online • St. Louis, MO
