Food for Life Project
(A Nutritional Supplements support programme for poor)
In 1974, A.C. Swami Ji, shocked and saddened upon seeing a group of village children in Mayapur (near Kolkata) fighting with street dogs over scraps of food, told his disciples: “No one within ten miles of a temple should go hungry… I want you to immediately begin serving food.” Heeding the Prabhupada plea, ISKCON devote
es around the world were inspired to expand that original effort into a global network. In the 1970s ISKCON expanded its vision of nutritious food distribution and developed the Food for Life program to target food distribution to the less fortunate. In many cities, special food distribution vehicles were purchased and daily delivery routes to the low-income areas began. Food for Life – Relief Program
The “Food for Life” program is an important activity of ISKCON Ghaziabad. Food for Life is a unique free food distribution program, which simultaneously satisfies the body by providing first-class vegetarian meals for everyone. Every day we distribute food to more than one thousand visitors. During festivals and Sunday’s this sanctified food is distributed to around 2,000 people. Apart from this, ISKCON devotees and volunteers go out to old-age homes, orphanages to help all the residents by distributing food. Program Goals:
• To support plant-based meal distribution to the disadvantaged, malnourished, and victims of disaster (natural or manmade), wherever there is a need.
• To help establish pure food prepared and served with loving intention as a viable means to create peace and unity in the world.
• To represent Food for Life to the government, media, and public through public lectures, newspaper articles, the Internet, and email.
• To promote a food culture of hospitality based on spiritual equality
• To raise funds on behalf of Food for Life projects worldwide and to support them with grants
• To coordinate and sponsor emergency vegan relief efforts conducted by Food for Life volunteers
Background on the Food for Life Project:
The distribution of sanctified plant-based meals has been and will continue to be an essential part of India’s Vedic culture of hospitality from which Food for Life was born. Since its inception in the early ’70s, Food for Life has tried to liberally distribute pure plant-based meals (Food) throughout the world with the aim of creating peace and prosperity. The Food for Life office facilitates the expansion, coordination, and promotion of food distribution throughout the world. The project started in 1974 after yoga students of Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON became inspired by his plea that “No one within a ten-mile radius of a temple should go hungry!” Today Food for Life is active in over 60 countries. Diversity
Food for Life volunteers come from all walks of life. Food for Life Global and its worldwide network of affiliates are non-sectarian and non-discriminating. Everyone is welcome to participate in our community projects. AIMS and Objectives
Food for Life projects India (Ghaziabad) all have unique local aims and objectives. However, all Food for Life projects will adhere to the following principles as part of their overall strategy.
• Welfare: To provide pure plant-based meals to the disadvantaged, malnourished and victims of disaster (natural or manmade), and wherever there is a need in the world.
• Hospitality: To revive the ancient Vedic culture of spiritual hospitality, and to teach people by example, that there is spiritual equality among all beings.
• Non-Violence: To reduce the number of animals slaughtered for food, by giving as many people as possible the higher taste of “karma-free” plant-based meals.
• Health: To teach about the value of plant-based meals for improving body and mind health.
• Education: To teach the art and science of food yoga as an integral part of consciousness development.
• Animal Advocacy: To support animal rescue projects as a powerful way to teach people (through direct experience) of the equality of all life. Food for Life Millennium Development Goals
At the 2000 United Nations Millennium Summit, world leaders from 189 nations signed the Millennium Declaration, a visionary document containing eight specific goals designed to end extreme poverty throughout the world by the year 2015. Sharing the commitment of these nations to the Millennium Development Goals, Food for Life Global and its affiliate programs are working hard to “free our fellow men, women, and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty…” (Millennium Declaration)
MDG Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Every day, over 900 million people go to bed hungry and 28,000 children die from poverty-related causes. Worldwide, 1.2 billion people live on less than $1 per day. Food for Life has served more than 3 billion hot, nutritious, plant-based meals in more than 60 countries since its inception. Every day, Food for Life distributes up to 2,000,000 free meals to needy people in over 180 cities worldwide. History of Food for Life
With roots in Indian culture, Food for Life Global is a modern-day revival of the ancient Vedic culture of spiritual hospitality. Since the beginning of recorded time, sharing of food has been a fundamental part of the civilized world and in India, such hospitality was based on the understanding of the spiritual equality of all beings.
