HELPING HANDS NEWSLETTER
Virtual Walk to Feed the Hungry May 24-31
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.
Poor People’s Campaign: A Digital March on Washington
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.
Responsibly Facing the Pandemic
By Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi • Not only does the pandemic bring illness, death, and economic hardship to many, but wherever it spreads it sows the seeds of fear and discord. It is fomenting nationalism and racism and divides populations up on the basis of economic, social, and racial privilege.
The Coronavirus Contains Its Own Medicine
By Paul Levy • The coronavirus is a living revelation that is dying to show us something about who we are and our place in the universe. What it is revealing to us is crucially important for us to know. Our very survival depends upon receiving its message.
Rice Support for Students in Cambodia
Through its partnership with Lotus Outreach International, BGR is helping provide poor girls in Cambodia—and their families—with rice support, thereby enabling them to continue their education through high school and even to pursue university degrees. The rice often feeds the girls’ parents and siblings as well, and the cost savings can benefit entire families.
A European Offshoot of BGR
By Raimund Hopf • A European Buddhist organization, Mitgefühl in Aktion (Compassion in Action), has recently been established with the intention of partnering with BGR in support of our hunger-relief and education projects. The organization represents Buddhists in three German-language countries of Europe: Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
BGR Supports Hunger Relief During Pandemic
By BGR Staff • This past week BGR donated $12,000 to support communities, both globally and nationally, adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. To assist the international effort, BGR contributed $5,000 to the World Food Program USA to provide food relief to people in other countries afflicted by hunger worsened by the pandemic.
Why BGR Partners With Large Organizations
By Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi • Why does BGR partner with large organizations? While we mainly partner with small and middle-sized organizations, there are good reasons why each year we form a few partnerships with large global organizations. Probably the most compelling reason, is that large organizations have the strongest capacity for producing positive results at the largest scale.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
During the coronavirus crisis, Buddhist Global Relief is continuing to fund projects providing food, education, and other necessary support to the world’s most vulnerable people. Many of the communities we serve worldwide are experiencing immense need as this epidemic spreads among vulnerable and medically underserved populations. If you have the ability to help, please consider donating to BGR. You can contribute by PayPal or credit card here or by check mailed to: Buddhist Global Relief, 2020 Route 301, Carmel, NY 10512, USA.
