To Adriane and All on Red Cross and M.A. Center

[Guest guest]

Adriane wrote:

 

There have been many questions about how good the Red Cross is or isn't. .91

of every $1.00 goes to the victims. I have not done an investigation. But

Swamiji said America is different than India and the other countries that were

hit by the tsunami in that we have organizations ready to assist. We should

make use of these and offer to help wherever we can.

 

 

Dear Adriane and All ~ I'm glad you wrote about this. The only one problem

with some U.S. charities is that are multifocus, and you can't always be sure

that donations go in the direction you want them to. During a crisis, it is

probably much more likely that funds go to the designated program. When a

crisis begins to fade, as we have seen, has already happened with the tsunami

in

India, though the recovery may take years or longer, funds may be diverted

to other programs.

 

I have raised a (tiny really) amount of money for Katrina relief at our

recent San Vicente Artists Art Fair, by doing a beading project with children

and

by donating 20% of proceeds from sale of my jewelry. With the children's

project, I said the money would go to the Red Cross because I knew this was a

respected institution people were very familiar with. With my own jewelry, I

had a note in front of my cases that said only, "20% of proceeds will be

donated to Katrina relief." That money will go to the M.A. Center.

 

I looked at Amma's website today to find out where the donation page is. If

you click on Katrina Relief Efforts button, and then on the next page, scroll

down and click on the "Report from the Gulf Region" by Swami Dayamrita, then

on that page scroll down and click on the donations link. If you want the

contribution to go to Katrina relief, and you are paying by credit card, the

field right after the one where you put your email, "donate to project," be sure

it says Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. The default is the tsunami, and there

is actually quite a long list if you click on the arrow of Amma's projects

to contribute to.

 

If you click on the "Disaster Relief" button, next to the "Visit our Store"

button, it will take you a page where you can , "donate to

add a smile." Again, for credit cards, tsunami relief is the default here, so

if you want your contribution to go to Katrina Relief, be sure to click on

the arrow and select that one.

 

Too much explanation ... but even with the M.A. Center, we have to be sure

to designate where our contributions are going to go.

 

I wish there was a way that our diges satsang could do something in addition

to praying.

I can't think of any tidy way to make this work. I am glad there are so many

satsangs where people can get actively involved as well as do projects to

raise money. Pranams to all of you.

Jai Jai Ma ~ Linda