Dear Food for Life friends,

For the last ten days, Sri Mayapur in West Bengal, India, has been severely flooded. For those of you unaware, Sri Mayapur is the home of Food for Life – the place where it all began over 30 years ago. About 70,000 people in more than 40 villagers have been adversely affected by this flood. The villagers are without shelter and food. Many of them are on open rooftops as they have nowhere else to go. A large part of their belongings have been washed away in the water. They anxiously look forward to our boats for at least food to keep them alive. During a flood, even food is a rare commodity for these stranded villagers.

So far, Food for Life volunteers have been able to distribute 21,750 hot vegetarian meals. They have also set up medical assistance camps to a limited extent. Because many have lost their (mud) homes, volunteers are also started distributing tarpaulin sheets.

Food for Life is presently able to carry out the relief work in a very limited way due to shortage of funds. But plans are already in place to substantially expand our reach to benefit all the distressed villagers. Many of our team members are eager to go out and help but as you may understand, we urgently need money and assistance. So we humbly appeal for your generous help to carry out this important flood relief.

On a daily basis we would like to distribute at least:

• 5000 servings of sanctified vegetarian meals costing USD 1,300
• Clothing to 500 people costing USD 1,100
• Medical assistance to 500 villagers including children and ladies costing USD 550
• Tarpaulin sheets to 1000 families costing USD 2,200

We also need to provide the affected people with:

• Halogen tablets for water purification. Cost: USD 225
• Educational materials for children. Since a large segment of the affected people live in mud houses, etc. in their villages, and their houses with their possessions are washed away by the flood, we need to provide the children (about 20,000) with educational materials (textbooks, notebooks and pencils) also. Cost: USD 89,000

Donors who want to contribute in kind (medicines, grains, clothing or any miscellaneous items) are most welcome.

We sincerely thank the donors who have already helped us with their generous donations to start this relief service.

You may choose any mode of payment:

Tax deductible donations can be made in the US via Food for Life Emergency Relief Fund:

Account: Food for Life Global Emergency Relief
Account #: 3925890842
Bank Name: Bank of America
Bank Address: 10000 Falls Rd, Potomac, MD 20854-4103 USA
Swift Code: please see below - it depends upon how sending money

If sending in US dollars - SWIFT code is BOFAUS 3N
If sending in foreign currency SWIFT code is BOFAUS 6S
If sending domestically within the US then the routing number is 026009593

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To wire money directly:

• Bank transfer: American Express Bank, Kolkata
  Account No 420081073
  Account Name: ISKCON Gaura Purnima Festival Fund Bank
  Address: American Express Bank Ltd, 21 , Old Court House Street Kolkata700001, West Bengal, INDIA
  Swift Code No.: AEIBINDXCAL
  
• Any Indian donor could directly remit the money to our account with UTI Bank Limited, Krishnanagar, Nadia Dist, West Bengal.
  The details are as follows:-
  Bank: UTI Bank Limited
  Account No: 237010100005944
  Account Name: ISKCON
  Bank Address: UTI Bank Limited,12 M M Ghosh Street, Krishnanagar, Dist Nadia, West Bengal 741101
  Swift Code No.: UTIBINBB005
  
• Cheque: In favor of ISKCON, payable at Kolkata,
  The letter should be addressed to Purananda das, ISKCON, 31, Lake Avenue, Kolkata 700026, India.
  
• Online payment: Click “Donate Now” option in www.mayapur.com. Please specify the purpose (food, clothing, medicines & shelter) of the donation under “Donor comments”.

Thank you for you ongoing support.

Paul Turner
Director
Food for Life Global

Donations by Check
Food for Life Global
PO Box 59037
Potomac, MD 20859 USA