BGR Relief During COVID-19 Pandemic
BGR has been doing its best to address the urgent need for food assistance that has arisen because of the pandemic, regularly making contributions that target communities negatively affected by the pandemic.
BGR has been doing its best to address the urgent need for food assistance that has arisen because of the pandemic, regularly making contributions that target communities negatively affected by the pandemic.
BGR’s annual report for fiscal year 2019 is now available. As the report demonstrates, BGR’s work continues to be critical as global issues unrelentingly exacerbate world hunger.
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.
Buddhist Global Relief's partnership with the U.S.-based North Country Mission of Hope lifts girls and young women in Nicaragua out of poverty. This year, a BGR grant sponsored the educations of 122 girls and young women.
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.
By Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi • The police killing of George Floyd this past Memorial Day has set off a stream of protests in cities and towns across the U.S., and even around the world, united under the banner of “Black Lives Matter.” The murder, captured on video by a passing pedestrian, reveals the horror of racism in its terrible immediacy. Floyd’s dying words, “I can’t breathe,” followed by his silence, leave us shocked at witnessing such a naked display of cruelty taking place in broad daylight in a major American city, committed by an officer of the law.
Over the past two and a half months, beginning in late March, BGR has donated over $45,000 to support communities, both globally and nationally, adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
On March 31st BGR donated $1,000 to the Karuna Trust in Sri Lanka, which has been distributing parcels of dry rations to poor families hit hard by the strict curfew imposed in the country on account of COVID-19.
When our New Jersey Spring Walk could not happen in person this May because of the pandemic, our NJ Walk coordinator, Deborah Steincolor, worked in partnership with several East Coast spiritual organizations to create a beautiful series of Dharma events benefiting Buddhist Global Relief and local food pantries.
On June 20 and 21, the Poor People's Campaign will host a virtual march to "address the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism." The hope is that by uniting the millions of people who struggle each day just to get by, who lack health insurance, living wages access to clean water, and secure voting rights, we can move forward the moral and political imagination of this country and revive the heart of American democracy.