Help Winnie Singh provide abandoned, homeless widow mothers with blankets and warm clothes

"I can go hungry for a night or two without food and still stay alive, but I am defenceless against chilly weather,” says Gendu, 70-year-old widow mother in a frail voice. Gendu begs for food on the streets of Vrindavan to stay alive, but she dreads cruel winters. “I don’t have anything to defend myself against the weather. I don’t have a warm blanket or even a sweater,” she says. 

A warm blanket in the harsh winter months can save a homeless widow mother’s life. Donate now.

This campaign is tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India), & 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (USA).

Winnie Singh of Maitri is trying to keep the widow mothers of Vrindavan warm by distributing good quality blankets and winter clothing. Maitri has over 150 widow mothers where they get shelter, food, care and medicines, but not every elderly widow who comes to Vrindavan after being abandoned by her family gets as lucky as the mothers at Maitri. You can help Winnie support widow mothers living on the streets of Vrindavan with blankets and warm clothes this winter. Donate now.

Maitri’s winter outreach

“They can handle the heat during summers, but widow mothers face a lot of problems during winter. Their bodies get so weak during winter that they become susceptible to various diseases. As Vrindavan is on the banks of Yamuna, it gets very cold here. I have seen many women dying in their beds because of the cold. Sometimes it gets so cold that many don’t even feel like getting out of bed. This may bring them more diseases,” says Winnie. 

The situation gets so desperate during winters that many widow mothers living on the streets spend their nights in gaushalas (cow shelters) near Vrindavan. “But, even here, they cannot get the kind of clothes and bedding that can keep them warm. They need thermals, sweaters, gloves, caps and blankets,” says Winnie.

The state of elderly widow mothers

Elderly widows who are abandoned by their own families are amongst the most vulnerable people in India. Many end up in Vrindavan after being abandoned, beg for food, and spend their days in damp little rooms or on the streets. While there are a few shelter homes like the one by Maitri, they cannot accommodate all the widow mothers. 

“We provide nutrition to over 250 widow mothers who are not part of our shelter home. But there are many more who need support during winter. By providing them with warm clothes and blankets, we can protect them from the winter,” Winnie says.

Your support will help Winnie Singh provide warm clothes and blankets to widow mothers at Vrindavan and Radhakund (Mathura). 

Our help can save homeless elderly widows from the harsh winter at Vrindavan.