Working toward its mission to “aid those suffering from deprivation of basic human needs,” the BCA Social Welfare Committee (SWC) distributed more than $69,000 in 2020 to 14 organizations in the United States and abroad.
The SWC launched several new initiatives including a COVID-19 emergency grant program and Temple Charitable Matching Grant program.
Temple Supporting Grants and Temple Charitable Matching Grants
Supporting — Watsonville — providing monthly meals to Salvation Army — 300-plus servings — $2,400
Matching — Buddhist Church of Oakland — Asian Health Services — supporting telehealth services — $1,250
Matching — Buddhist Church of Oakland — Alameda County Community Food Bank — $2,243
Matching — Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple — Asian Counseling & Referral — meals — $3,000
Matching — Buddhist Church of Florin — My Sister’s Place — $691
Matching — Placer Buddhist Church — Placer Food Bank — $1,753
General Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Grants
Buddhist Global Relief — VoTech Educational Support for women in Sri Lanka — $5,000
Uki-no-wa — clear access roads in Kumamoto after flooding — $5,000
Redwood Community Fund — fire relief in Northern California — $5,000
Direct Relief — fire relief — $5,000
World Central Kitchen — as needed — $5,000
Maitreya Charity (Seattle sponsored) — assistance in Mongolia — $10,000
Dorothy’s Place — (Salinas sponsored) — meals for homeless — $20,000
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple — tablets and thumb drives with Dharma messages for those unable to attend service or access services — $2,650
Applications are now being accepted for the next round of grants. Please consider completing a grant application for one of your favorite worthy organizations.
Applications are available on the BCA website under Give/Social Welfare: https://www.buddhistchurchesofamerica.org/socialwelfarefund/
SWC grants are funded by the generous donations of the Sangha to the Social Welfare Fund.
Thank you for your Dana.