A Small Act of Compassion By Jitu Shah and Chandrakumar Jain

In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. - Bhagwan Mahavir

Bhagwan Mahavir’s message of Anukampa (Compassion) and Love is very relevant now when 89 million refugees – Ukraine, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Congo – are facing hunger, lack of shelter and jobs to survive.

The Executive Committee at the Jain Society of Greater Cleveland (JSGC) under the leadership of President Meena Jain hosted a unique & impactful event on Saturday August 6, 2022, along with ’Rise Against Hunger’ - a non-profit international agency dedicated to reducing hunger worldwide. The event was promoted through multi-media in Jain, Hindu, and main stream American communities of Northern Ohio. USCRI (United States Committee for Refugees & Immigrants) also participated.

On August 6th, the Rise Against Hunger (RAH) truck rolled in at 8:20 am at the Jain Temple in Richfield Ohio. Joseph Kelly with two helpers started unloading 50# bags of Rice, Soybean, & Dry Veggies and vitamins packs. He also brought plastic bins, funnels, weighing machines and heating guns sealers, tapes, and cardboard boxes. It was a 100% turn-key operation. JSGC as a host, provided dining room, tables and electric outlets. More than 100 enthusiastic, smiling & happy volunteers between the ages of 6 years to 85 years participated. In just 3 hours, they packed 10,000 meals, sealed, and packed in the boxes ready to be loaded in the truck! Because of speed and extra volunteers in the morning, JSGC had to cancel afternoon shift disappointing a few volunteers!

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The journey of the meal goes through 12 important steps: Harvesting, Transporting, Warehousing, Trucking, Packaging, Weighing, Sealing, Boxing, Exporting, Distributing, Cooking & Nourishing. The cost of each meal sponsored was only 40 cents!

Ask Somebody in Hunger ‘ICU” the real value of ONE meal? ONE meal may provide enough fuel for a person to go to work OR take their children to school; IT IS A LIFELINE!

Mayor M. Wheeler, USCRI Director-Darren Hamm & Meena Jain - JSGC President

Comments from Participants:

“Awesome, Incredible, WOW!”

“Loved it, Enjoyed”

“Let us do it again in 6 months.”

“It broadened the mission of Jain Society”;

“Created More Awareness about Jain Principles in outside community”;

“Why NOT bring two trucks and make 20,000 packages next time”