Did You Know . . .
- That the largest group of foreign-born residents in Howard County are classified by the Asian Indian.
- The second largest group of foreign-born residents are Korean.
- That in India more than a million cases of COVID-19 were recorded over three days alone, and thousands have died.
- That hospitals and medical facilities in India are running out of oxygen and ICU beds, with patients left outside hospitals waiting for care.
Just last Sunday, on Mother’s Day, as most of us celebrated our vaccinations and the relaxation of COVID restrictions, many Howard County residents worried about family members currently living in India. In fact, one of our Board members, Hima Jain and her husband Rajiv, have been in constant contact with with their families back in India to assure their safety during this terrible time.
Hima and Rajiv have established the “Jain Matching Fund for India COVID Relief” with the Community Foundation of Howard County to help provide food relief to India through grocery rations and Happiness Kits to the vulnerable communities affected by this current crisis.
“We have established this matching campaign because the need is dire,” stated Hima Jain. “No one is safe until everyone is safe.
Many of us are fortunate enough to have the systems and support structures to get us through this pandemic. But there are millions of people who don’t have the advantages we have. It is our responsibility as to do whatever we can to find solutions and serve our community.”
All donations will be directed to the U.S. arm of the Akshaya Patra Foundation, which is an IRS qualified 501(c)3 nonprofit known for its work providing food to those in need. In fact, their mission is to feed five million children each day by 2025 with a vision that no child shall be denied an education because of hunger.
The Jains have agreed to match all donations, up to $100,000!
Please help our neighbors and their families just as so many have helped us through the turbulence of the COVID pandemic.