This is how Nrsinga Das, leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Midrand’s Hare Krishna Food for Life campaign described the work of the non-profit organisation.
The Midrand branch conducted its final food handout for the year, with the help of Pick n Pay Sandridge and the Carlswald Lifestyle Centre. They visited children in Ivory Park, starting at Tumelo Home for children with disabilities, Thuthukani Centre for orphaned and abandoned children and ending at New Jerusalem Children’s Home for orphaned children.
Midrand Food For Life helps to feed hungry community members once a month and is a subsidiary of Food for Life Global. Volunteers and Hare Krishna devotees help to prepare and hand out the vegetarian meals.
Organiser and spokesperson for Midrand Food for Life Shane Goorahoo said, “It is truly humbling to see businessmen peel potatoes and hand out meals to hungry people.”
Food For Life Gauteng representative Lee-Anne Flack explained, “Food for Life was started nearly 40 years ago in India as a food relief programme.” An elderly Indian swami, Srila Prabhupada was heartbroken at seeing a group of children fighting over scraps of foods with street dogs. “He said no one within 10 miles of a temple should go hungry,” said Flack.
Das believed that by feeding the hungry, the organisation could help to prevent social ills such as crime. “Every year a five-day festival is held in Durban and many hungry people are fed,” he said. “During those five days, crime is at an all-time low but after the festival, it slowly escalates.”
Details: Nrsinga Das, 083-551-1550, nrsinga@gmail.com or iskcon.midrand@pamho.net
