Compassion During the Pandemic

By Darshna Shah

Jainism is sometimes referred to as “a compassionate religion” as Compassion is one of the main pillars. Lord Mahavira’s message is that we should love everybody and should not hurt anybody. We should try to help others and make them happy – that is compassion. This pandemic year has been unlike anything we have ever experienced, but it did give us an opportunity to be compassionate towards our fellow human beings.

Tender Care Community Outreach Program (TCCOP) was fortunate to be contacted by Dr. Elsie Briseno Simonovski - Director of Child Welfare and Attendance at the Buena Park School District about an annual program providing socio-economically disadvantaged students with jackets and shoes to ensure youth are taken care of during the holidays and the approaching cold winter season. This additional layer of support for basic needs would enable these youth to learn and grow in a comfortable environment. Ten students, from K to 8th grade, were nominated from the schools and the district office. These students live in garages, motels, shelters, camp sites, cars or share residences with other families, and a pair of good shoes and a warm jacket fulfills the basic clothing items needed so they may be able to thrive and learn their classroom lessons. Each student was handpicked from eight schools and went home with a big smile as this gift was a total surprise! With the generosity of discounted pricing from Skechers and the affordable pricing of items from Costco the smiles this year were priceless!

Thanks to generous community support, TCOOP was able to continue their Projects during Pandamic:

• Distributed hand-made face masks to healthcare workers, • Organized sending hand written caring letters to seniors centers • Helped the Covenant House in Los Angeles to distribute 600 sandwiches each month to homeless youth. • Continued to deliver food supplies to the Community Center in Santa Ana, and hot meals & fruits.to the Long Beach Church to feed homeless. Arranged for meals at WISE Place in Santa Ana - a nonprofit organization which provides unaccompanied women with safe transitional and emergency needs. • Provided grocery bags of beans, rice, and tortillas to 300 underserved families identified by Placentia- Yorba Unified School District. Also distributed 5 pound bags of rice and beans, oil and cereal to more than 300 families at the Valadez Middle School in Placentia. • Virtual education is causing health and mental issues for under privileged students and their teachers, negatively impacting student grades. Supported Valadez Middle School teachers to take fresh fruits to these students during weekly home visits. • Partnered with Sikh Center of Santa Ana in distributing groceries to over 650 needy families.

• Provided 2 bicycles to brothers who were helping their sick mother by bringing groceries home and a bicycle to a young mother to get to work. • Delivered 400 blankets for the Smile Makers Holiday Gift program to celebrate seniors in licensed care facilities throughout Orange County.

TCCOP’s Story:

Tender Care Community Outreach Program (TCCOP) was founded ten years ago by a small group of volunteers who wanted to turn caring words into deeds. With the blessings and support of Anekant Community Center (ACC) which provides the umbrella organization covering our liability and financial management needs – we were off and running. We are guided by a few basic principles which have served us well and allowed us to be established as an organization that does “good” in the community.

• No need is too small or too large. • All community members are welcome to participate in whatever capacity they can – as donors, as foot soldiers, as need identifiers, etc. • Jain Center students are encouraged to participate in specific programs to instill caring for the community from a very young age. • Ongoing activities such as weekly breakfast service, and monthly dinner service are sponsored by Jain

Center families to commemorate birthdays, anniversaries or “tithis”. • Support is not limited to Jain families, or only Indian families – anyone in need is helped if possible. • The need once identified is properly vetted by one of our volunteers to ensure it is genuine. • Support is provided by purchasing food, clothing, and other needed items – we never give cash (few exceptions had to be made when the pandemic hit)! • Sponsorship drives are held during Paryushan, Mahavir Jayanti, and other Jain Center activities to raise community awareness and encourage participation. • Special attention is given to students and elders in need – as they are the most needy members in any community. • Donors have been identified that wish to be informed of needs as they arise so they can support the cause – large and small.

There is no magical blueprint for TCCOP-ACC’s success – other than a caring parent organization, dedicated volunteers and a Jain community with a large heart! A similar organization can be setup in your Jain Center and we will be delighted to help!