"My son used to kick me when he was in my womb. Why make an issue when he kicked me in my old age?" reasons a very forgiving Shakti Dasi. The widow travelled 2300 kms from Tripura to Vrindavan after her only son violently beat her with a burning plank of wood and broke her knee one evening. She had to leave behind the business she had built with her husband who had died a few years back. Shakti ended up on the streets of Brindavan begging for food and shelter. But when Winnie Singh of Maitri saw Shakti in a frail state in tattered clothes, she brought her to the shelter home where Shakti gets food, care and medicines. What more, with Maitri’s intervention, Shakti reconciled with her son - and daughter-in-law, and now travels home to Tripura twice a year to spend time with her grandchildren. But she is not leaving Maitri, as this has become her family.Not every elderly widow who comes to Vrindavan after being abandoned by her family gets as lucky as Shakti. Many of them often end up living a lonely life and begging to survive on the streets. Maitri aspires to take care of every widow in need of help.<img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/ce101369-528c-4d37-bc1d-1118b9925af3.jpg" />Maitri’s Project Jeevan to the rescueAbandoned, elderly widows are the amongst the most vulnerable in India. After being thrown out of their often abandoned by their own children and are forced to beg for food and shelter. “Through Project Jeevan, Maitri houses aging widow mothers in two ashrams in Vrindavan and Radhakund (Mathura), providing them with wellness and well-being. The programme also reaches out to widow mothers beyond the ashrams with fruit, milk and healthcare services,” explains Winnie Singh, co-founder and executive director, Maitri India.Save homeless elderly widows from begging on the streetsMost widows who make their way to Vrindavan are abandoned by their families, often after years of abuse. They come here hoping they will spend the rest of their days in prayer and devotion. But most live in impoverished conditions on the streets and in dingy rooms. Since poor living conditions often cause a wide range of health ailments, including respiratory infections and chronic conditions, Maitri comes to their rescue through its Project Jeevan.The project aims to:<ul><li>Provide meals leading to improved health and wellbeing</li><li>Make physical and mental health services accessible</li><li>Offer necessary quality aged care and assisted living support</li><li>Increase awareness on and engagement around the struggles of abandoned widow mothers</li></ul><img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/1abfb906-563b-4747-85b8-8af2071a2856.jpg" />Project Jeevan needs your support to help those in need of food, healthcare and well-being. Donate now.“Maitri urgently needs your support to provide food, clothing and healthcare to sustain these widow mothers who are prone to more illnesses as they age,” appeals Winnie.Maitri believes in a woman’s right to dignity in life and death, more so a mother. Our help will enable Maitri to save hundreds of abandoned widows from a life of begging, and restore the respect, dignity, and identity they deserve.

Save abandoned, elderly widow mothers of Vrindavan from begging on streets

For a mother who has spent her entire life loving and raising her child, being beaten and mercilessly thrown out onto the streets by her own son is too heartbreaking to overcome. But this is a common story among the elderly residents of the Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram. “I’ve seen mothers in old and torn clothes, their bodies smelling and their hands and feet rotting and covered in maggots,” shares Dr. G.P. Bhagat, founder of the ashram. These abandoned elderly men and women lay starving on the streets hoping for someone to rescue them from their suffering. But most people walk past them without a second glance. “Like this”, Dr. Bhagat explains, “many elders die on the roads.”Since 2003, SHEOWS (Saint Hardyal Educational and Orphans Welfare Society) has rescued over 10,000 elderly people from the streets and given them a home with care and support. The elderly staying at the ashram have all been abandoned by their families and have nowhere else to live. Your support can give them comfort after their abandonment. Donate now.Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India). Safe and loving homeFor 20 years, SHEOWS has been providing free shelter, nutritious food three times a day, clothing, medical care, recreation activities and emotional support to abused and disabled elderly people rescued from the streets of Delhi. The Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram has a dedicated rescue team that saves the elderly from the streets and gives them immediate medical care upon their arrival at the home. To tend to the multiple health complications of the seniors, the home has a medical facility with doctors and nurses, a physiotherapy unit, a pathology lab, a digital X-ray monitoring machine and a pharmacy to provide 24-hour care to older adults anytime they require assistance, even during emergencies. Dr. Bhagat prioritizes the health of the seniors and ensures that they receive three balanced meals a day based on their precise health requirements. Need for the fundraiserThe humanitarian mission of SHEOWS is making an impact in the area, as more and more people are being rescued and brought to Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram. To meet the financial costs of running the home, SHEOWS needs support to continue providing the residents with all the facilities that they need. This includes constant care and round-the-clock medical attention, nutritious food and maintaining a hygienic environment to keep the seniors in comfort and good health. Dr. Bhagat explains that as the number of residents is increasing, SHEOWS needs support for food and medicines. “I request you to help these elderly parents lead a peaceful life.”Donate now to help Dr. Bhagat continue caring for the 500 destitute elderly and giving them shelter, food, medical care and the will to carry on living despite their tragic abandonment by their families. Your support will enable SHEOWS to keep serving abandoned senior citizens and help them recover from the trauma of abandonment and life on the streets. “I have been serving these elderly as if they were my own parents”, shares Dr. Bhagat. “I want only one thing - their tears should vanish and they should have a smile on their faces.” To help Dr. Bhagat achieve this dream, your support is critical. Donate now to help SHEOWS care for more abandoned elderly. Donate to this fundraiser by Give, India’s largest online donation platform, to support SHEOWS in their mission to rescue the abandoned elderly from the streets and give them shelter, food, medical care, recreational activities and emotional support.

Help Dr. Bhagat care for 500+ elderly parents rescued from abuse and homelessness

In the dark and dingy alleys of red light areas, injustice, pain and suffering run rampant. And the worst affected are the children who grow up in red-light areas and are subjected to constant abuse and violence. “The sight of a 12-year-old girl being gang-raped by a group of men near a house l haunts me to this date. I was filled with anguish and resolved to do something,” says Girish Kulkarni who has made it his life’s mission to rescue children from red light areas and give them a safe and secure childhood. In the last 3 decades Girish has saved over 1100 girls from a life of abuse in red-light areas, giving them a loving home, education and medical care. He has further supported over 20,000 children with a better life.Sadly, 250 of the children rescued from abuse and exploitation are HIV positive. The high cost of medication has left Girish struggling for funds. Your support can help him provide these children with the care and upbringing they need. Donate now.Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India), &amp; 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (USA). A movement to protect vulnerable children“Growing up in Ahmednagar, the experiences I had as a child witnessing the horrors of sex trade defined the path of my life. I had even seen my friend’s 15-year-old sister and 70-year-old grandmother being forced to do sex work for the price of a cup of tea”, recalls Girish. “I started by merely feeding and teaching children of sex workers initially with the intention of giving them some respite from the horrors of life of abuse in red-light areas. Gradually more and more mothers started coming to me and asked me to take their children away, even if it was just for a couple of hours,” he further adds.The work that Girish started in his youth gradually grew to become a movement, with many more joining his cause. His NGO Snehalaya to date has transformed the lives of millions. Girish’s work is crucial for the survival and safety of vulnerable children of sex workers. Snehalaya is almost entirely dependent on donations from the public and your support can strengthen his mission to save children most in need. Donate generously.The horrors of life in red light areas“The cruelty and abuse that children as young as 6 or 7 years of age face is something that I can’t explain in words. Young daughters of sex workers are made to watch their mothers being raped, are brutally assaulted and forced into sex work. No child deserves to grow like this, Girish says in anguish.Sad reality of life for children growing up in red light areas is that they are deprived of even the most basic needs like proper food, safety and education. Moreover, a majority of children rescued by Girish are diagnosed HIV positive. The task of securing medication, providing them quality education and much needed nutrition is one that requires constant support from donors. Moreover, the increase in healthcare cost has left Girish struggling to keep his home for children going. But your support can enable him to give his children a loving environment and save many more who still remain trapped behind closed doors.Donate to this fundraiser by Give, India’s largest and most trusted online donation platform, to help Snehalaya give hundreds of children rescued from red-light areas a life away from violence and abuse.

Help Girish give 250 HIV+ children, rescued from abuse in red-light areas a new life

This is a sample description for Children. For the purpose of testing I will use the word Childrenchildrenchildren.

Children

This is a sample description for education. For the purpose of testing I will use the word EducationEducationEducationEducation.

Education

This is a sample description for Environment For the purpose of testing I will use the word Hunger & HomelessnessHunger & HomelessnessHunger & Homelessness.

Hunger & Homelessness

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Healthcare

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children

The Akshaya Patra Foundation, for 20 years, has been a purveyor of the Mid-Day Meal Programme (MDM) supporting government school students in India with a hot nutritious lunch every school day, encouraging underprivileged children to remain enroled and complete their secondary education.At its core, the Foundation aims at countering malnutrition while supporting the right to education of socio-economically disadvantaged children. The midday meal or breakfast served in schools serves as an incentive for children to attend school and for parents to send their children to school. Resulting in an improved enrolment rate in government schools, regular attendance, enhanced performance and nutritional profile of the children, while reducing the dropout rate. The arrangement also serves as a source of economic support to the family, as every school day one nutritious meal for their child is taken care of.At present, beside serving children through the MDM Programme, Akshaya Patra continues to serve communities in need:Cooked Meals served to:·        COVID-19 patients and their families in hospitals·        Essential and frontline workers, including sanitization workers, staff in government hospitals·        Migrant workers·        Homeless and people in night shelters·        Food for Isolated Groups of people e.g. the elderly·        Disadvantaged familiesGrocery Kits distributed to:·        Households in underprivileged communities (contains pulses, rice/atta, oil, spices, fortified salt and sugar; ingredients in kits are based on local tastes)·        Government school children through the Happiness Kit Initiative (contains rations to promote nutrition, hygiene products to boost immunity, and stationery)·        Family Happiness Kits distributed to serve the entire family. Includes rations, educational material for children, and stationery and hygiene products.  ·        Raksha Kit which acts as an incentive for people from marginalized communities to get vaccinated (includes rations, soap and awareness booklet)·        Distributed to underprivileged anaemic pregnant women, Shakti Kit promote a healthier pregnancy and the birth of healthy babies

Donations through Give Foundation, registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961 are tax-deductible.

Donations through Give Foundation, Inc. a registered US 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization, are tax-deductible.

Donations through GIVE, a registered charity in UK, are covered under Gift Aid

Sangeetha Naveen

The Akshaya Patra Foundation

Ten-year-old Sushil lives in Jaipur and is among the brightest in his class. However, his circumstances compelled Sushil to help his siblings graze sheep rather than join his fellow classmates. Like many others, his love for school was not something his family reciprocated, instead believing the education system to be redundant in the face of such financial instability. As a result, Sushil and his siblings were forced to drop out of school.

Our volunteers met Sushil when they were in his village looking for children to enrol. We explained the programme and the importance of education to his parents. Attracted by the meal that Sushil and his siblings would receive, they started school immediately. This is indicative of how important the meals we provide are. Sushil, having seen Oprah Winfrey in a newspaper, is now eagerly awaiting the chance to tell her and the world his story.

Oprah Calling

This nonprofit is registered as a charitable trust under section 12A of India's Income Tax Act, 1961.

This nonprofit is registered under section 80G of India's Income Tax Act, 1961. This means you can deduct 50% of the donation you made through your tax return.

This nonprofit is registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010. This means it can accept donations from foreign nationals.

Karan Kumar

Amazon in the Community (AITC) accepted to provide Akshaya Patra with a one-time grant of $5k.

Nov 23 - total funds raised $31k

Thank you to one of you who donated $15.3k through a generous donation and corporate match directly to Akshaya Patra (per the rules of corporate matching)!

Nov 1- total funds raised $25k

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Nearly 13.5 million children in India are out of school and most of them are dropouts. Their circumstances force them into menial labour in order to earn just one meal a day. Research shows that the universalisation of education has taken a backseat due to prevalent hunger and malnutrition which reduces enrolment and increases dropout rates. 
 We run a school meal programme that provides children studying in government schools with freshly cooked, healthy lunch. The programme is spread across nine states and caters for 1.3 million children. This meal is often the only source of nutrition they have. Our kitchens therefore strive to meet the requirements of a growing child. We also create employment for women that work in our decentralized kitchen. The centralized kitchens are highly mechanized and ensure quality and hygiene. We also ensure that hot nutritious meals reach the children on time everyday. 
 Akshay Patra has reached out to over 3,30,150 children to date. An increased attendance of up to 41% has been noted in some schools. The women who run our kitchens have benefitted significantly since gaining employment.

Provide school lunches to underprivileged children

Millions across the globe were caught off guard by the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Among all, the worst hit was the underprivileged segment of the society.The eventual loss of jobs among the marginalised section due to COVID-19 lockdowns and lack of basic resources further worsened the already existing hunger and poverty situation. Daily wage workers and marginalised families neither had any source of income nor any source of food.  
 In response to this crisis, The Akshaya Patra Foundation began its COVID-19 Food Relief Service on 25 March 2020. The Foundation has been serving cooked meals every day to daily wage workers, migrant labourers, marginalised families, and needy people at old age homes and night shelters.  
 So far, Akshaya Patra has served 2,84,92,715 cooked meals to the people in need. It is catering to the needy across 19 states across India. The Foundation aims to serve 3 crore cooked meals soon.

AN APPEAL TO UNITE AGAINST COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Pregnancy is a phase of women that is enjoyable. But, what happens when one faces problems due to the pandemic? Their husbands have lost jobs, some already have children to take care of while others do not have enough money to take care of themselves or their developing baby. Millions of pregnant women suffer from iron and other nutritional deficiencies that can lead to complications of various severities. Iron deficiency leads to defects in the baby while it leads to anaemia in pregnant women, dizziness, weakness and can leave them feeling exhausted and tired. During pregnancy, there is a need to get double the amount of iron than non-pregnant women. Their body needs this iron to produce more blood to supply oxygen to the developing baby.48% of women in Karnataka are anaemic, including 22% with mild anaemia, 23% with moderate anaemia, and 3% with severe anaemia. Two-thirds of children age 6-59 months are anaemic. 
 To support anaemic pregnant women with nutritional supplements, the shakti kit programme was initiatied by The Akshaya Patra Foundation. Women have distinct nutritional requirements throughout their life – especially before and during the maternal period, when nutritional vulnerability is greatest. Ensuring women have nutritious diets, adequate services and care is fundamental for the survival and well-being of mothers and their children. •       National Family Health Survey in 2019 revealed that 50% of reproductive age women are anaemic in India •       Children born of anaemic mothers suffer from low birth weight, poor cognitive development, and low immunity  The aim of this project is to provide Shakti kits to pregnant women in Karnataka, with the long-term goal of eliminating malnutrition and anaemia, which not only affects the mother, but also the birth and growth of their children. An official communication from the Office of the Chief Secretary has been received by Akshaya Patra for this programme.Akshaya Patra distributes Shakti kits priced at ₹825 to nourish pregnant women with the required nutrients. With each kit, a pregnant mother will receive the following items that can take care of food requirements for 15 days. Every Shakti kit will ensure a boost in the immunity of pregnant mothers and women.  
 Only a strong immunity will help them prepare to fight any disease or virus. Good nutrition and healthy food intake during the antenatal period are critical for expecting mothers. Eating food rich in fibre, iron and calcium, etc. can decrease the risk of congenital diseases and nutritional deficiencies in newborns. As on 30 September 2021, Akshaya Patra distributed 5,350 Family Happiness Kits to malnourished pregnant women from marginalised and low-income segments of the society. Each kit distributed will take care of nutritional requirements of these women while also providing supplements to the developing baby. The Shakti kit priced at ₹825 will be packed with Pulses and Malt-based Protein Mix, Ayurvedic Immunity builder, Protein Porridge Mix Pack, Peanuts, Green Moong, double fortified salt, turmeric powder and masks.

Shakti Kit - An Initiative to support malnurished pregnant women with nutritional supplements

The Covid-19 pandemic affected us all in some way or the other. Its people, the Government of India fought against the COVID-19 pandemic, with isolation and lockdown together. The pandemic affected millions of migrants, labourers and underprivileged sections of society. They suffered without food to eat, essentials to help them and their family survive. The pandemic had inflicted a lockdown upon the nation where people were stranded from their homes, did not have money to pay their house rent or jobs to save money for the possibility of another pandemic. Their children also suffered without food and majority of the family members went to sleep on a hungry stomach. The vulnerable sections of society did not have money even to buy essentials like rice, salt, sugar, toor dal, wheat flour, spices, etc. 
 As people affected by the pandemic continue to fight a hunger crisis, it is time we all stand with them for their well-being. In March 2020, The Akshaya Patra Foundation turned all its resources to offering Food Relief across the country. The Foundation served at-risk communities with Wholesale (Cooked) Meals and Grocery Kits. As of 30 September 2021, Akshaya Patra has served a cumulative of 187 million (18.7-crore) meals in the form of cooked meals and food essential kits to marginalised families. With these feeding initiatives, people from various walks of lives, like construction-site workers, carpenters, aged people, daily-wage labourers, patient care takers, nurses, auto rickshaw drivers, ambulance drivers, grave diggers, BBMP workers, etc. have received food assistance. 
 By adhering to all safety and hygiene measures, The Akshaya Patra Foundation is providing cooked meals and dry grocery kits to aid people across several locations of the country. As on 30 September 2021, Akshaya Patra distributed 41,159 Family Happiness Kits to the families of marginalised and low-income segments of the society comprising of daily wage workers, migrant labourers, construction site workers, grave diggers, auto rickshaw drivers, ambulance drivers, patient caretakers and needy people at old age homes and night shelters, etc. Each kit contains food supplies that can help a family of four survive for 15 days. Some of the food items that are packed inside the Family Happiness Kit include Rice, Wheat flour, Toor Dal, Desi Chana, Peanuts, Edible Oil, Sambar Powder, Chilli Powder, Turmeric Powder, Jaggery, Iodised Salt and Glucose Biscuits. The kit also takes care of their hygiene and education supplies like non-woven, tooth paste, soap bar, sanitary pads and notebooks.