Community outreach program
Tibetan Buddhist Society - Fundraising and donations
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has continuously taught that it is most important that Tibetan Buddhist practitioners support their local communities.
The Tibetan Buddhist Society’s Founder and Spiritual Leader, Venerable Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, has made great efforts to ensure that the Tibetan Buddhist Society has followed His Holiness’ advice.
Although the Society has incurred many costs through purchase and maintenance of the Yuroke property, construction of the traditional Tibetan temple and the Tushita Publications publishing programme, it has been very active in raising funds for appeals to support those suffering through tragedies, natural disasters and other hardships.
The Tibetan Buddhist Society has raised more than $1.23 million for charitable and public interest causes since 1979. This has included major donations to the Queensland Floods Appeal ($17,000), Victorian Black Saturday bushfire appeal in 2009 ($40,000), the Red Cross Indian Ocean tsunami appeal in 2005 ($22,150), the National Drought (Red Cross Farmhand Appeal) in 2002 ($12,154) and significant projects to support Tibetan communities in exile in India.
Sunday lunch for local people in need
The Tibetan Buddhist Society has commenced serving a fortnightly Sunday lunch at the Banksia Gardens Community Centre for people in need in the Broadmeadows area.
This is the latest stage in the Society’s Fundraising Program to Feed Homeless and Disadvantaged People, which began in December 2009.
The program meets a long-held wish of the Society’s Founder and Spiritual Head, Venerable Geshe Acharya Loden, to care for people in need, especially in our local area.
Many local services have advised that homelessness and disadvantage are serious issues in our region and that there is an increasing need for regular, fresh, nutritious food.
Geshe Loden was recently awarded Citizen of the Year by Hume City Council in recognition of his enormous contribution to Australia and setting up this program in our local community. In accepting the Award Geshe-la said:
‘I live on Australian land, eat Australian food, drink Australian water. My shelter comes from Australia. My food comes from Australia. My helpers are Australian people. Therefore, I never forget the kindness of Australian people and the Australian Government. I continuously seek to repay that kindness.’
How You Can Help
Volunteer: If you would like to help during the meals service please let Rebecca or Jean know at the centre or phone 03 9333 1770.
Fundraise or Donate: A total of $31,074.25 in financial and material donations has been raised. The current total is $14,210 and we are seeking further donations to support the Sunday lunch program.
Please let us know if you can:
Make a one off or regular donations. All money donated is used for the service and the cost of administration is borne by the Society. The Society will publish regular reports on the project and provide a receipt for all monetary donations.
Donate nutritious, non-perishable food items.
Access reliable suppliers of quality surplus foods.
Participate or contribute in other ways to fundraising activities.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
Our efforts to date
The Tibetan Buddhist Society’s program Fundraising to Feed Homeless and Disadvantaged People has so far included:
A 2010 Christmas project, which brought together $16,000 in donations for 500 Christmas hampers for residents of the Banksia Community Gardens Estate, a mental health facility nearby, people in need in Footscray, Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda and a refuge in Sunshine.
A monthly collection of food and essential items for Anglicare Services in Craigieburn to provide to people in need which will continue in 2011.
A Christmas 2009 project to distribute $3500 of food donations to homeless and disadvantaged people in Footscray, St Kilda, Collingwood and South Melbourne.
For more information please call Rebecca or Wendy on (03) 9333 1770 or contact the centre
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