Anekant Community Center’s Activities in 2020

By Dr. Nitin Shah, Director, ACC

Anekant Community Center (ACC) in Los Angeles has been doing humanitarian work in different parts of the world, 2020 started extremely well as in January we organized 10 medical/surgical missions in Mumbai, Gujarat & Kutch. Then came COVID-19 pandemic and posed challenges for all other local and international missions! ACC quickly changed gears and treated pandemic as an opportunity to embark on different types of humanitarian work. Below are the details of few activities that ACC has been blessed to carry out amidst the Pandemic!

Pre-COVID-19

I. Medical & Surgical missions in India – Over 14 days in 10 places we show 4588 patients for medical check up, did 297 surgeries and gave 1105 eyeglasses. (raised $ 36,500).

Activities since COVID-19

II. United Sikh Mission – Cooked 3000 to 4000 meals per day for underprivileged. (raised $ 42,601).

III. Refurbished Chromebooks (RCB) – Our pride project started in partnership with Sarva Mangal Family Trust (SMFT, Manu & Rika Shah) for initial 500 RCB to four schools in Southern California. Then joined hands with JAINA to give another 1200 through various Jain Organizations in US & Canada. It was extended to others and we have given another 300 so far bringing a total donation of over 2000 RCB to children for Online learning! SMFT plans to continue and ACC wish to join. (raised $ 131,352).

IV. Ghana Eye Surgeries – Realizing travel limitations Dr. Nitin Shah called Dr. Boetang Wiafe in Accra, Ghana and requested to full fill ACC’s dream of doing 2020 Cataract Surgeries around the world. Requested to perform at least 1000 of those with local resources! Dr. Boetang gave the most pleasant surprise and agreed to do 2020 eye surgeries with our support! They have so far performed 1124 eye surgeries. (raised $ 51,185).

V. Ghana Medical Checkup – United Service to Africa in USA & Seventh Day Adventist Organization in Ghana agreed to host medical missions for medical screening and distribution of eyeglasses to needy. DiwaliBa Trust (BU Patel) donated 5000 lbs of medicines which we transported to Ghana. They plan to see over 4000 patients. They have seen 2784 patients and given 410 eyeglasses so far. (raised over $ 50, 000).

VI. Nigeria Eye Surgeries – Nigeria requested us to support 300 cataract surgeries out of 1000 that Rotary Club of Lagos and Geeta Ashram were working on. We got blessed and have been able to raise funds for 500 Cataracts instead of 300! Nigeria has already taken care of 806 (106 from our sponsorship) so far and plans to complete 394 in early 2021. (raised $ 22,220).

VII. Miscellaneous – Monthly blood donation drives with American Red Cross at Sanatan Dharma Temple, Donation to Sight & Sketches to help underprivileged in Anaheim, SMFT’s sponsorship to Bhansali Trust in India.

We appreciate all Donors who have contributed to above projects, we could not have done it without your support. Due to space limitations, we are listing donors who have contributed $ 5000 or more.

They are in random order - Anonymous, Tarsadia Foundation, Wadher Family Foundation, Sarva Mangal Family Trust, Hina & Nikhil Dhami, Diwaliba Trust (India), Choksi Family, Dr. Neena & Bharat Patel Foundation, Madhu & Ashok Patel, Hina and Bipin Hira, United Service to Africa, Bina & Dr. Nitin Ambani, Drs. Meera & Jasvant Modi, Federation of Jain Associations in North America, Jain Center of Southern California, Priti & Siddharth Shah, Michelle & Neil Patel, Jain Society of San Diego, Roopa & Dr. Ashok Sharma, Love all serve all, Inc., Swati & Akshay Jhaveri.

Michchami Dukkadum if we missed any information and donors’ names, please forgive us.