By Madhava Smullen
The new Devotee Care Team started in New Vrindaban, West Virginia in April 2021, is providing resources, assistance and association for residents of the large rural community.
The team is run by Lilasuka Dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who first moved to New Vrindaban in 1980 and has served there as a day school teacher, communications director and handcrafts store owner; and Beverly Nava, who came in 2016 and has served as restaurant manager and HR representative.
While working in communications, Lilasuka found that because she was a good listener, devotees would constantly come into her office to talk and ask for help. Serving in HR, Beverly had the same experience.
“So many devotees and staff would come into the office, looking for someone who would listen, give advice, or just someone to vent to,” she says. “So on top of the HR duties, I was having a lot of personal interactions. And I really liked having that open door policy.”
Lilasuka saw a great need for an official Devotee Care Team in New Vrindaban, and in April 2021, with the help of Beverly and Nityodita Das, a member of the New Vrindaban Village Council, she began putting together a proposal, environmental scan and budget.
The Devotee Care Team is a project that falls under the umbrella of the New Vrindaban Village Council and Village Association, which represent the residents of New Vrindaban. The team began offering its services in June, and in October made a presentation to the ISKCON New Vrindaban and Eco-Vrindaban boards, who agreed to co-fund it.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/new-vrindabans-devotee-care-team-provides-assistance-and-association,8087/
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