Joy of GIVING Week

[Avinash]

Dear Friends,

The Joy of Giving Week will be from 27 Sept. to 3 Oct. Only 8 days
remaining. It's a great opprtunity to connect many new people to our
cause & also to strengthn the bonds with the existing one. You can
visit websites to find out many ideas, people are working for.

We have planned in following lines.

1. Collection of material from cities - Amravati, Akola, Washim,
Karanja, Yavatmal, Pandharkawada, Chikhali, Mehekar, Buldana, Wardha,
Nagpur.

· Colection already started at Amravati, Wardha, Karanja, Nagpur,
Akola.

· Pamphlets, Flex baneers, Press note to be used as the publicity
medias.

· In house collection is comparatively easy at schools &
collages. Last year also few schools have given us half truckload
material each.

· Cloths, toys, school & sports materials, utensils & home
appliances, furniture, library books, newspapers scrap, bicycles,
spectacles etc.

2. Distribution to needy persons - which is more effortful task than
collection. We are exploring it at the schools of corporation & the
outskirts schools. We observed that there is a need in the slums of
Amravati also.

3. Charity by Fasting - Promoting the idea of keeping fast during the
week & donating the amount saved to some charity.

At Amravati we will be keeping the program of fast at some public
hall.
We will try to get involved all the religiongs in this program. Jain
community already have a great knoledge of fast. Ramzan is just
completing. Many Hindu people keep fast during Navaratri. It could be
a connecting platform for all of these.
I will be keeing fast from 27 Sept to 2 Oct. (Total 144 Hours) I will
be taking only water during the fast.
I see that the fast can be promoted as an advneture for the youths. My
observation is that hardly few are having the experience of keeping
fast. So I want to make them experience.
This idea of keeping fast for charity is very well appreciated &
enthusiasticaly responded by all.
Many Sevankur members & others will also be keeping fast for lesser
duration with me. Expecting total of 1000 days + fast at Amravati only
& similar at other places.
One can keep fast doing his daily routine or can come to the fast
center & stay there during the fast period.
There will a daily schedule at the fast center just like a camp. Daily
prayer, observing scilence for few hours, collective reading of some
refective book, Bhajan, speeches, some physical work of cloths sorting
& packing, will go on there.
Poster exhibition on socuial issues, book exhibition & sale. Also we
are trying to collect the thoughts from differnt religions & great
personalities regrding FAST & GIVING. We are trying to prepare an
exhibition of the same.
Special gatherings & programs will be arranged for children, youths,
women & senior citizens during the week at the fast center.
We are appealing our well wishers to donate for PRAYAS by this way of
keeping fast. That will be the real strength & support. You also can
do it at your place.
Pl. propagate the idea.
Attaching herewith the pdf file in marathi of the concept note of Joy
of Giving Week.

With best wishes.
Yours
Avinash Saoji