March 20, 2009 India , Meditation , Sonoma Ashram , Spirituality , Travel

Namaste from Bal Ashram

News from Bal Ashram Sonoma, California Dear Friends, Babaji and I just arrived a couple days ago to Sonoma. My ...

News from Bal Ashram

Sonoma, California

Dear Friends,

Babaji and I just arrived a couple days ago to Sonoma. My heart still wells up when I think of the look in the eyes of all the children and friends at Bal Ashram as they bid farewell to us.

With this email, I am inviting your continued support to sustain Bal Ashram, where every dollar goes such a long way as you will see in the numbers below. The entire operation of Bal Ashram is fully dependent on the generosity of our friends and well-wishers. We invite you to sponsor one of the children or make a general contribution. Please call me (707-996-8915) or send an email (shivani@sonomaashram.org) to find out more about the children who need sponsors, or please click here to make a contribution towards any aspect of Bal Ashram.

Just imagine the joy if we received the news of someone feeling inspired to sponsor the whole operation of Bal Ashram for a year.

Here are some fun facts about Bal Ashram.

Did you know ...

· From its inception in the year 2000, Bal Ashram was created and continues to be supported by all the friends of the SonoMa Ashram who prefer to send their donations in the name of Bal Ashram.

· Bal Ashram’s annual operating expenses are $46,000.

· The children at Bal Ashram have two sponsors, each who gives $500 a year. Sponsorship covers a child’s education, medicine, clothing, food and other expenses. Five children are currently in need of sponsors.

· It would take $2,000 to send all 18 children and a couple of staff for a week-long vacation to the mountains during the summer season when the temperature is over 108 degrees in Varanasi.

· The annual cost for cattle feed for Lakshmi, Bal Ashram’s cow (who provides milk daily), is $500.

· Last year’s annual cost for emergency medical care for the homeless in the neighborhood was $4,500.

· Total money spent on food for the Ashram for a year was $7,000 since most of the grains and legumes are donated by the local community.

· Annual expense for staff salaries was $9,000.

· Total utilities bill (telephone, electricity and diesel for the generator) for a year was $1,700.

· The new planned school building for Anjali School (from nursery to 5^th grade) is estimated to cost $10,000.

Finally, I send my words of appreciation to all of our supporters, and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for making such a place possible for the children and visitors as well. I want you to know that this place is always there for you whenever you happen to be in India.

With gratitude,

shivani

Please click here

to help further this work.

http://edblogword.blogspot.com/search?q=ashram

http://edblogword.blogspot.com/2007/12/ganga-ji.html

http://edblogword.blogspot.com/2009/06/sonoma-ashram-learn-sacred-mantras.html

http://edblogword.blogspot.com/2008/10/take-it-all-off.html

http://edblogword.blogspot.com/2010/12/welcoming-new-year-at-sonoma-ashram.html

http://edblogword.blogspot.com/2010/09/selfless-service-devotion-in-action.html

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Namaste from Bal Ashram

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