Iskcon Alachua: New Community Social Services Network

By Radha devi dasi

Over the past two decades, various devotees have started programs to help others with social services needs in Alachua including meals, rides, repairs, post-partum/ end of life care, etc. Some of these programs include CARE, Ashraya, Heart-to-Heart, Extended Family Social Services, and MR4SP (Material Resources for Spiritual People.)

Recently, Mahattama devi dasi invited a group of devotees to meet to discuss ways to better coordinate social services needs within the community. This group concluded that there should be an “umbrella” organization to engage everyone in helping one another and to help those in need find the support from the appropriate group, resource, or individual.

To make this a sustainable program, the new community social services network needs two co-directors. Learning from past experience, one person “in-charge” can end up doing too much or may eventually have life circumstances that make it impossible to continue. By having two co-directors, they can cover and help one another. We are pleased to announce that both Co-Director position have been filled by second and third generation young adults! Last week we introduced Pranaya-Keli devi dasi, as one co-director for the new program. Since then, third generation Ananda Vardhini devi dasi has volunteered. These two steady and responsible young women will make a fantastic team to get this project off the ground!

Ananda Vardhini is the daughter of Alankara and Premamrta Prabhus. She was born in Venezuela but came to the USA when she was a baby. She attended gurukula in New Dwarka (Los Angeles), but finished her education in public high school. Ananda attended Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California. She is trained in computer repair, web site design, and other skills.

At the young age of 16, Ananda Vardhini started the Radha Kishori Vallavha Mandir and ran preaching programs there for more than a decade. She even did prasadam distribution in a mental hospital. She moved to Florida in 2013. Ananda Vardhini personally raised all of the money needed to paint the Miami temple. Ananda is married to Haridas and has two children named Markendeya and Dayamurti.

Currently, Ananda Vardhini works for Sacred Thread and the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. She has an elaborate home Deity Worship program and does service at the ISKCON temple in Alachua. She has also experienced difficult times in life which inspires her to give back to those in need. She speaks English and Spanish fluently and brings much experience and a wide skill set to her new volunteer position as co-director of our community’s new social services program.

During June, Pranaya-Keli and Ananda Vardhini will be at a table at the Sunday feast with short surveys for everyone to fill out. (The survey is also available on Facebook page MR4SP.) The data will be compiled so that those who are offering to help can be identified when needs arise. Of course no one is obliged to help out at any given time, but at least the directors/team leaders will know whom to call when a particular service is needed.

So far, we have filled the two co-director positions and secured a phone line. We will announce the phone number shortly before we are ready to start.
The following are still needed:
1) Fill out the survey and turn into Pranaya-Keli
2) Suggest names for the community social services network umbrella organization
3) Volunteer to be a Team Leader*

*Team Leader Job Description: strong positive interpersonal skills needed 1-3 flexible hours per week. There will be several teams that do particular types of services. Team leaders will have a list of those who volunteered to do the services and will need to contact members of that team when there are those in need. Teams include: Home/Family, Transportation, Repairs, Health, & Spiritual/Counseling. When contacted by a Co-Director, Team Leaders “activate” their team members to help those in need.

The tentative launch date for this program is Janmastami – September 5. The first goal is to have at least 100 surveys completed by the end of June. The program also needs a name soon so please give your suggestions to Pranaya Keli or Ananda Vardhini.
This program is being started by devotees but the long-term vision includes helping others outside the community. Therefore, all varieties of devotees and FOLK (Friends of Lord Krsna) members can receive assistance and volunteer through this program once it begins.
To volunteer or make any suggestions, contact Radha Selvester at radhas428@gmail.com or 352 316 6113. As founder of Extended Family Social Services in 1993 and current MR4SP Facebook group host, Radha is acting as consultant to this program.

The social services network will engage everyone as volunteers and recipients of service without consideration of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, and ability. Those who volunteer to help others are not obliged to help everybody or every time they are called. All services are given lovingly. Those who receive help will volunteer to help others when they are able. This social services program is simply a networking system and all who participate do so voluntarily with no guarantees or warranties or insurance for those who serve or those who receive services.

Link to survey. You may return filled out survey to one of the Co- Directors at their table at the Sunday Feast.