The island nation of Sri Lanka is in the midst of one of the worst economic crises it's ever seen. It has just defaulted on its foreign debts for the first time since its independence, and the country's 22 million people are facing crippling 12-hour power cuts, and an extreme scarcity of food, fuel and other essential items such as medicines.
With no fuel and no money for food, HG Indrani and her family of nine trudged for an hour to a community kitchen in Colombo in hopes of finding a simple vegetarian meal. Rampant food inflation and chronic shortages of cooking gas and petrol are making daily life a battle for millions in the midst of Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.
"There is no income," said Indrani, one of the hundreds queueing in the midday sun at a makeshift kitchen run by a church. "There is no food most of the time. We have been suffering a lot." Two dozen volunteers boil rice, dice onions and scrape the flesh from coconuts as they cook over open fires due to the shortage of gas in the space on the flat roof of the church near Sri Lanka's Parliament.
"The need is so great," said Akila Alles, the chief operating officer of the Bethany Christian Life Centre, which set up kitchens at 12 of its churches and served food to about 1,500 people each day since June. "Inflation is so high, people can't afford to eat. Without gas, people can't cook, and without transport, people can't work." Conditions are grim enough that more than five million Sri Lankans have reported being forced to skip meals, according to the World Food Program.
The Sharing Hands Foundation has committed to the following projects for now and will expand our operations as we collect more funds. We will look into other needs that we can commit to and keep you informed.
We are also open to suggestions. (sl-crisis@sharinghandsfoundation.org) Please check this site for updates.
With no fuel and no money for food, HG Indrani and her family of nine trudged for an hour to a community kitchen in Colombo in hopes of finding a simple vegetarian meal. Rampant food inflation and chronic shortages of cooking gas and petrol are making daily life a battle for millions in the midst of Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.
"There is no income," said Indrani, one of the hundreds queueing in the midday sun at a makeshift kitchen run by a church. "There is no food most of the time. We have been suffering a lot." Two dozen volunteers boil rice, dice onions and scrape the flesh from coconuts as they cook over open fires due to the shortage of gas in the space on the flat roof of the church near Sri Lanka's Parliament.
"The need is so great," said Akila Alles, the chief operating officer of the Bethany Christian Life Centre, which set up kitchens at 12 of its churches and served food to about 1,500 people each day since June. "Inflation is so high, people can't afford to eat. Without gas, people can't cook, and without transport, people can't work." Conditions are grim enough that more than five million Sri Lankans have reported being forced to skip meals, according to the World Food Program.
The Sharing Hands Foundation has committed to the following projects for now and will expand our operations as we collect more funds. We will look into other needs that we can commit to and keep you informed.
We are also open to suggestions. (sl-crisis@sharinghandsfoundation.org) Please check this site for updates.
Please make a donation for us to continue our projects
We are tax exempt 501(c)(3) charity.
Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
We have zero payroll and administrative expenses.
100% of all the funds collected go towards our programs.
Federal Tax ID: 84-1746098
Make checks payable to Sharing Hands Foundation and mail to:
11586 Rancho Del Valle, Granada Hills, CA 91344, USA
Venmo.com click here, or enter @SharingHands in the Venmo App
Zelle use donations@sharinghandsfoundation.org
If you want to make a donation in Sri Lankan rupees, please send an email to donations@sharinghandsfoundation.org
For credit or debit card please click on the Donate Button.
Also consider making it a recurring donation. Thanks.
Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
We have zero payroll and administrative expenses.
100% of all the funds collected go towards our programs.
Federal Tax ID: 84-1746098
Make checks payable to Sharing Hands Foundation and mail to:
11586 Rancho Del Valle, Granada Hills, CA 91344, USA
Venmo.com click here, or enter @SharingHands in the Venmo App
Zelle use donations@sharinghandsfoundation.org
If you want to make a donation in Sri Lankan rupees, please send an email to donations@sharinghandsfoundation.org
For credit or debit card please click on the Donate Button.
Also consider making it a recurring donation. Thanks.
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Coconut Charcoal Stove
This coconut charcoal stove was invented and manufactured by a poor entrepreneur from Gampaha, Sri Lanka. It is ideal for low-income families living in flats for their cooking where there is no gas and cooking with firewood is not an option. There is a built in fan that regulates the flame. It is "Fuss Free", smoke free and soot free.
We distributed 25 units in the north and 25 units in the greater Colombo region. Our cost is Rs. 5,500 (approximately US$16.00).
We distributed 25 units in the north and 25 units in the greater Colombo region. Our cost is Rs. 5,500 (approximately US$16.00).
Soup Kitchens
Soup kitchens in crisis-hit Sri Lanka feeding the poor. Food inflation and chronic shortages of cooking gas and petrol make daily life a battle for millions in the island nation. As prices keep increasing, healthy meals are out of reach, more than two thirds of families are struggling to feed themselves. Even a meal of only rice and gravy is out of reach for most. Pregnant mothers need to eat nutritious meals every day, but find it harder and harder to afford the basics.
These are some of our projects
These are some of our projects
Kudapadu, a fisher village close to Negambo. 600 people/once a month
This project is being done with the help of the Claretian priests
Total per feeding (600) = Rs. 121,610 (Rs.203/pk) (Total $481)
This project is being done with the help of the Claretian priests
Total per feeding (600) = Rs. 121,610 (Rs.203/pk) (Total $481)
St. Sebastian's Church - Moratuwa - Feeding 1,400 elderly and orphans/once a month
The project is undertaken by the Married young adults of the church
"I sincerely say thank you for initiating this project and push me towards it. It is wonderful to see children, youth and elders coming together working, laughing and chatting. Now the demand has gone up to 1400 beneficiaries. I told them we will do it, not to worry. I am indeed happy to see their hard work. Thank you once again and being with me, God bless you. Fr. Jude Raj Fernando"
Total per feeding (1,400) = Rs. 432,659 (Rs.309/pk) (Total $1,226)
The project is undertaken by the Married young adults of the church
"I sincerely say thank you for initiating this project and push me towards it. It is wonderful to see children, youth and elders coming together working, laughing and chatting. Now the demand has gone up to 1400 beneficiaries. I told them we will do it, not to worry. I am indeed happy to see their hard work. Thank you once again and being with me, God bless you. Fr. Jude Raj Fernando"
Total per feeding (1,400) = Rs. 432,659 (Rs.309/pk) (Total $1,226)
School Children's Nutritious Breakfast Program
We are currently feeding 370 school children a nutritious breakfast daily before school. The children are come to school hungry after having hardly any food the previous day. This might be their only meal for the day. "Due to the severity of the economic crisis and the lack of household finances, there has been an increase in the number of children being admitted by their families to children's homes."
These are some of our projects
These are some of our projects
Kattuwa, Negambo - 100 kids a nutritious breakfast 5 days/week
We are feeding children of low-income families, who find much difficulty in providing breakfast for their children, when they go to school every day.
Rs. 34,550/week ($98/wk)
We are feeding children of low-income families, who find much difficulty in providing breakfast for their children, when they go to school every day.
Rs. 34,550/week ($98/wk)
Kunchukulam near Madhu Shrine, Mannar
170 kids from two schools a nutritious breakfast 5 days/week
Children of poor farmers in a very rural village. The unavailability of fertilizer, and fuel, to run agricultural machinery, is causing a serious food crisis. We are providing a nutritious breakfast for their children, when they go to school every day. For many this might be their only meal for the day.
Rs. 67,480/week ($191/wk)
170 kids from two schools a nutritious breakfast 5 days/week
Children of poor farmers in a very rural village. The unavailability of fertilizer, and fuel, to run agricultural machinery, is causing a serious food crisis. We are providing a nutritious breakfast for their children, when they go to school every day. For many this might be their only meal for the day.
Rs. 67,480/week ($191/wk)
Boscopura, Negombo - 100 kids a nutritious breakfast 5 days/week
Boscopura, is a housing complex put up by the Don Bosco priests, for fisher-families who were affected by Tsunami in 2004. There are 190 houses with 275 families. Due to the fuel shortage, the fisherman can't fish and has caused not only unemployment but under-nourishment/malnutrition and illnesses. The Salvatorian Sisters are involved in helping these families. With our funding they started this breakfast program.
Rs. 30,000/week ($83/wk)
Boscopura, is a housing complex put up by the Don Bosco priests, for fisher-families who were affected by Tsunami in 2004. There are 190 houses with 275 families. Due to the fuel shortage, the fisherman can't fish and has caused not only unemployment but under-nourishment/malnutrition and illnesses. The Salvatorian Sisters are involved in helping these families. With our funding they started this breakfast program.
Rs. 30,000/week ($83/wk)
St. Anthony's Kollupitiya - 100 Packs/month
On Tuesdays they distribute 450 food packs to the needy. We pay for 25 of the packs weekly.
Live, Love & Give is facilitating this for us
On Tuesdays they distribute 450 food packs to the needy. We pay for 25 of the packs weekly.
Live, Love & Give is facilitating this for us
Nawalapitiya - Essential household items and hygiene packs
Nawalapitiya is a town in the Kandy District 38 km from Kandy. They were badly affected by the recent floods in addition to the economic crisis. We purchased essential household items and hygiene packs for them. Rs. 150,000 ($425)
Nawalapitiya is a town in the Kandy District 38 km from Kandy. They were badly affected by the recent floods in addition to the economic crisis. We purchased essential household items and hygiene packs for them. Rs. 150,000 ($425)
Rs. 5,000 Food Vouchers
Distributing Rs. 5,000 food vouchers to needy people throughout the country.
These vouchers can only be used for food purchases.
Purchases of alcohol, tobacco, etc. are restricted.
Distributing Rs. 5,000 food vouchers to needy people throughout the country.
These vouchers can only be used for food purchases.
Purchases of alcohol, tobacco, etc. are restricted.
Essential Medical Supplies
Sri Lankan medicine shortage a death sentence for some, doctors say. A shortage of medicine caused by an economic crisis in Sri Lanka is causing deaths, doctors said, as hospitals are forced to postpone life-saving procedures for their patients because they do not have the necessary drugs.
Sri Lanka imports more than 80% of its medical supplies but with no foreign currency reserves because of the crisis, essential medications have disappeared from shelves and the healthcare system is collapsing. Entire wards are dark and nearly empty in Sri Lanka's largest hospital, its few remaining patients leaving untreated and still in pain, and doctors prevented from even arriving for their shifts. Shortages leave bankrupt Sri Lanka's hospitals empty. We are working with hospitals and pharmacies to see what we can do to help.
Sri Lanka imports more than 80% of its medical supplies but with no foreign currency reserves because of the crisis, essential medications have disappeared from shelves and the healthcare system is collapsing. Entire wards are dark and nearly empty in Sri Lanka's largest hospital, its few remaining patients leaving untreated and still in pain, and doctors prevented from even arriving for their shifts. Shortages leave bankrupt Sri Lanka's hospitals empty. We are working with hospitals and pharmacies to see what we can do to help.
See what we have do in Sri Lanka & the USA
Please visit our other pages to see what else we do in Sri Lanka and our programs in the USA.
Visit our Gallery Page to see a pictorial of what we have done and are doing
Visit our Gallery Page to see a pictorial of what we have done and are doing
Community Outreach
We have helped numerous Sri Lankan families in Southern California with financial assistance when they were in dire need, dues to various circumstances. This program is ongoing, and families continue to receive monthly assistance. This is a 100% confidential program. Learn More
