Outreach Week Recap

During the week of December 12th, our annual Outreach Week, students in Audarya and Madhurya Bhavan had the opportunity to go out into the community and share the gift of Krishna consciousness. 

One of our book distribution groups: Satyaki, Vrini, Krisangi, Nadia, Radha, Divya, Divyanga, and Aravind, pose for a photo before leaving for Gainesville.The younger students in Audarya Bhavan visited with Mother Indrani (an elderly disciple of Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja) at her apartment in Alachua. They shared treats, performed kirtan, and got an opportunity to hear stories from a respected member of our community. 

Students from Audarya Bhavan (2nd and 3rd year) and Madhurya Bhavan accompanied Divyanga Prabhu and Mother Satyaki, Shantipur, and Radha on store-to-store book distribution in Alachua, High Springs, and Gainesville throughout the week. They all returned with happy faces and stories of positive exchanges and appreciation with the people they met. All together, they distributed 60 prasadam cakes and 100 cookies and 236 books, including 36 Bhagavad Gitas.

Thank you to everyone who contributed items as part of our food and necessities collection drive. Adigopi Priya, who represents Ashraya, the New Raman Reti temple service organization, was touched by the generosity and thoughtful choice of donated items.  The collection was split and distributed to two families in the community.  She commented that both recipients were very grateful and that the donations came just when they needed them the most.

Overall, this year's Outreach Week activities were a great way for our students to get a chance to foster a spirit of generosity and compassion for others by sharing Krishna consciousness in a safe and supportive way.

Special thanks to Divyanga Prabhu and Aravind for giving most of their week to facilitate and accompany our students on their book distribution outings.  Thank you to everyone who inspired and supported our students during this year's Outreach Week.

Holiday Fundraising Results

During the break we concluded the 2011 Bhaktivedanta Academy holiday fundraiser. We sold 369 tins of prasadam cookies and fudge and as a result collected $3,850!  We are still tabulating all expenses but expect to raise about $2,650. We didn't get one of our large company orders this year, but came very close to last year's totals regardless.

Thank you to our community of parents, teachers, students, and supporters who all helped make this possible. In particular, I would like to acknowledge our army of volunteers who baked, packaged, and sold on behalf of Bhaktivedanta Academy:

Fudge

• Adi Gopi
• Govinda Mohini
• Nilamadhava
• Sakshi Gopal

Cookie Baking and Packaging

• Adi Gopi
• Anangamanjari
• Bhavani
• Gopi Prema
• Hanuman
• Indrani
• Jvalamukhi
• Kamala Manjari
• Kanchambala
• Krishna Dhama
• Kulavira
• Mandie
• Nandarani
• Narada
• Nitai Lila
• Palika
• Param
• Pishima
• Radha
• Radharani
• Radhikesh
• Raghunath
• Ramacandra
• Satyaki
• Shantipur
• Syamalangi
• Vrindarani
• Vrindavanesvari
• Yadurani
• Yamuna
• Yogavit

Sales Table

• Deepa
• Malika
• Nataka-candrika
• Radha
• Sarala
• Satyaki

Piece Work and Purchasing

• Adi Gopi
• Nitai Lila
• Radha Jivani

Special thanks to Adi Gopi for helping with all aspects of the fundraiser and especially for scouring Gainesville for several weeks collecting all the tins we needed from any Dollar Tree should could find them.  Although she was unable to personally participate this year, I also want to thank Padmaksi.  She did such a great job documenting the entire production process that we were able to handle all the baking as if she was right there guiding us.

We didn't raise enough to cover the cost of the new Spanish curriculum program, so will look at some other fundraisers to help us purchase it.  Please let me know if you have any thoughts on how we might raise the $1000 needed to get started with this great program.

We wish you all a great new year!

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

Quality of the Month Flyer for January

Bhaktivedanta Academy's Quality of the month for January is cleanliness. We encourage you to download, print and post the monthly flyer at home and engage in the suggested discussion points and activities with your child.

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español, puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

Thank's to Our Volunteers!

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped produce over 90 tins of cookies and 60 tins of fudge this weekend! We couldn't have done it without you:

Fudge

• Adi Gopi
• Nilamadhava
• Sakshi Gopal

Cookie Baking and Packaging

• Anangamanjari
• Bhavani
• Gopi Prema
• Indrani
• Isha
• Jahnava
• Ksina
• Nandarani
• Narada
• Nitai Lila
• Param
• Pishima
• Radharani
• Ramacandra
• Satyaki
• Shanti
• Syamalangi
• Vrindarani
• Vrindavanesvari
• Yadurani
• Yogavit

Sales Table

• Malika
• Nataka-candrika
• Radha
• Satyaki

Piece Work and Purchasing

• Adi Gopi
• Radha Jivani

If you have not had an opportunity to sign-up yet, we still need volunteers for this coming weekend.  Please take a look at the dates/times and activities listed on the online volunteer sign-up form and let us know what you can help with. 

Click Here to Volunteer

Thank You!

 Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

Outreach Week

Monday, Dec. 12th marks the official start of our annual Outreach Week. During the week we strive to foster a spirit of generosity and compassion for others amongst our students. We do this by creating opportunities for them to share Krishna consciousness in a safe and supportive way. As best as possible we try to involve all our students. This year we have the following activities planned:

Alachua and High Springs Parades: Saturday, Dec. 10th - All students are invited to participate in the annual Alachua and High Springs Christmas parades by riding on the float (large carpeted flat cart with sides all around). Cookies will be made available for anyone who wants to distribute prasadam.

• The Alachua parade starts at 2:00 p.m. All participants should meet behind the Alachua Villas on Main Street at 12:30 p.m.
• The High Springs parade starts at 6:00 p.m.  Meet at the float at 5:00 p.m., The exact location to be announced.  Please contact the New Raman Reti temple office at 386-462-2017 for information on where to meet.

Food and Necessities Collection Drive: Monday, Dec. 12th - Friday, Dec. 16th - A collection box will be at the entrance of the school for students to place items for a local family in need.  Suggested items are: 

• Gift cards for gasoline or grocery stores (Ward's , Publix, etc.)
• Canned foods, like no sugar fruits (pineapple, apple sauce, etc.)
• Unseasoned canned beans (chickpeas, black beans, etc.)
• Whole grains (brown rice, barley, etc.)
• Seeds (sunflower, sesame, etc.)
• Oatmeal
• Mung beans
• Nuts
• Spices
• Ghee or olive oil

Please do not deposit expired food, used items, or any food item which contains garlic and onions.  We are asking each family to contribute at least 1 item.  At the end of our collection these items will be delivered to the family via Ashraya, the local care group which serves members of the New Raman Reti temple community.

Store-to-Store Book Distribution: Monday, Dec. 12th through Wednesday, Dec. 14th - Students in Audarya Bhavan (interested 2nd and 3rd year) and Madhurya Bhavan will go in small groups on book distribution with Divyanga Prabhu and one or their teachers.

Home Visits: Thursday, Dec. 15th - Some students in the Audarya Bhavan class will be brightening the spirits of some elder and/or ill local community members to share prasadam treats and kirtan.

As with any field trip, teachers will accompany the students on activities scheduled during the school day. Everyone will return prior to the 2:00 p.m. pick-up time.  

We are looking forward to an fun and exciting Outreach Week!