NRG Harvey shelter
Huyen,
Thank you to everyone who signed up to assist us at the BakerRipley Harvey Shelter at NRG. We have had over 8,000 guests come in and out of our doors since we opened. Many of our families who were stable before the storm have found housing elsewhere. Right now, the 2,200 guests who remain here are those who were housing insecure, homeless, disabled, or vulnerable before the storm. The work and the enviroment are changing, but we still need volunteers to keep this place organized and safe as we work to find a more permanent solution for our remaining guests. **Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and all you have done. As our needs change at the shelter, our volunteer needs will continue to fluctuate – sometimes hourly. We have had full volunteer shifts during the day, so if you are here during those times please be patient with us as we work to put you all to work. If you want to be where you are most needed, it is our 5pm-9am shifts.
Thank you again for your support and we will continue to keep you updated on opportunities in and outside of the shelter. We hope to see you again very soon!
Huyen,
We are in the final days here at the NRG shelter working towards our September 23rd close date. We will need volunteers now more than ever as we help our guests to pack, organize, and transition from our shelter their next home. If you are able, please volunteer now through Saturday night – we can really use your help. The next few days will also be physically demanding, so strong volnteers are definitely a plus!
We may also need volunteers for a special Sunday shift to finish the clean-up at the site, if we are not able to finish on Saturday. If you are available, please sign up for the shift on Sunday and we will let you know by the end of the day on Saturday if you are needed or not.
Sign up for Harvey Shelter shifts at this link: http://bit.ly/nrgvolunteerschedule.
Thank you to all of you who have been out here assisting in the shelter or helping our community in other ways. We appreciate your patience and flexibility throughout this process – things are changing all the time. I will continue to keep you updated on oppotunities here and elsewhere to serve our community.
Things you need to know:
NRG Center is located at 1 NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054.
Free parking: Enter through Gate 10. Pass red lot and go down NRG Parkway. Park on your right in Orange lots 8, 10 or 12. Parking Map
VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN HAS BEEN RELOCATED. After parking in the orange lot, the volunteer entrance and exit is through the glass doors by the flagpoles.
Bring a photo ID for verification – Volunteers must be 16 and older.
Wear comfortable clothes and your earn, learn, belong shirt if you were issued one.
Bring your own non-perishable food or eat before you come. Meals will be prioritized for guests first, so we cannot guatantee there will be food for volunteers at every shift.
You must agree to protect the guests’ privacy. DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS OR SHARE GUESTS’ STORIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR ANY OTHER PLATFORM. It is important that we protect their dignity. If you are seen taking pictures anywhere inside NRG Center, you will be escorted out of the building.
Listen closely. People will have various needs and it’s important for us to hear them and act accordingly. This is an opportunity for us to bring peace, a listening ear, and a helping hand.
Refer to people in the shelter as guests, neighbors, or friends. DON’T call them refugees.
Sincerely,
Lauren Duplessis
Manager of Volunteer Engagement
BakerRipley
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Huyen,
We are extremely low on volunteers right now. If you are available between now and 7am tomorrow morning, you are needed NOW.If you can come tonight, your help is needed.We will need additional volunteers for the following shifts:5pm-7am Thursday and Friday night6am-10pm Friday and Saturday (We will be moving our guests from our shelter to another shelter at that time)Our last day will be Saturday, September 23rd. We will be here through midnight that night packing up, transporting our guests, and then cleaning up.We may need additional volunteers on Sunday to help with any clean-up we did not finish on Saturday. You will be notified by Saturday night if you are needed. Please sign up if you are available.Sign up for Harvey Shelter shifts at this link: http://bit.ly/nrgvolunteerschedule.Thank you for all you have done to help us at the NRG Shelter. We hope to see you here within the next 3 days to help us finish strong and send our guests off safely and efficiently!
Sincerely,
Lauren Duplessis
Manager of Volunteer Engagement
Baker Ripley
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2017-08-30
Viet Nam Buddhist Center – Chua Viet Nam
10002 Synott Rd, Sugar land, TX 77498 * Tel: 281/575-0910
Email: trungtamphatgiao@yahoo.com * www.vnbc.org
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Donation Letter for Hurrican Harvey
Flood Releaf in Houston
Dear Benefactors,
As we have personally felt and experience the heavy rains that poured over an estimated 15 trillion gallons over East Texas from Friday, August 25 to Tuesday Morning, August 29, 2017. During the past five days, rising water levels have paralyzed all activities. According to reports, many people have died; many homes, property, and vehicles are severely damaged. In addition, more than 17,000 people have been evacuated to emergency shelter.
In the spirit of compassion of the Buddha, “morning give people happiness, afternoon help people ease suffering,” VNBC – Chua Viet Nam is calling all the benefactors everywhere to open their heart by donating to the relief effort to lessen the suffering of the people affected by the disaster.
VNBC – Chua Viet Nam in Houston, Texas will receive your contribution from today until August 30, 2017 to September 30, 2017. Viet Nam Buddhist Temple and Tu Bi Foundation will have delegates in contact and receive continual updates from FEMA and the American Red Cross as they monitor the situation in Houston and surrounding areas.
We look forward to welcoming benefactors in our fundraising effort, as Houston is our second home, the place where many Vietnamese refugees are living.
Houston, August 30, 2017.
Respectfully Yours,
Viet Nam Buddhist Center – Chua Viet Nam
All contributions please send check to address:
Từ Bi Foundation (Chùa Việt Nam)
10002 Synott Rd.
Sugar Land, TX 77498
Tel 281-575-0910
Memo: Houston Flood Rescue Fund
Từ Bi Foundation (Virginia)
4901 Powell Road
Fairfax, VA 22032
Tel. 571-437-6997
Memo: Houston Flood Rescue Fund
Venerable Nguyên Đạt
Vietnam Buddhist Center
10002 Synott Rd
Sugar Land, Texas 77498
(281)575-0910
Pictures of the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey:
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/catastrophic-flooding-in-texas-from-harvey/18/
Before and after image of the flooding (move the vertical bar/slide on the picture):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/national/harvey-photos-before-after/?utm_term=.d36f6c5a346c
Video of the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/national/harvey-video/?utm_term=.b7cff4808ce2
Dear Benefactors
It’s January and Nha Trang is still raining and flooding. The flood relief program push on from November to January and the association had to consider carefully before deciding to help the affected area. We must choose districts that were severely damaged and the number of delegates needed.
Khanh Hoa province flooded 6 times from October to January 2017. Due to continuous rain over many day and the hydro-power let out the floodgates, causing Khanh Hoa province to repeatedly be flooded and the people are at a standstill, especially those living in farming area. It’s close to the Lunar New Year, the association decided to give gifts so that the people have something to celebrate the New Year with.
Viêt Nam Buddhist Temple’s Tu Bi Foundation (300) and Vien Thong Pagoda (300) in Houston distributed 600 portion of gifts to 6 district: Diên Lạc, Diên Lâm, Diên Phước, Diên Hòa, Diên Thọ, Diên Lộc in Khanh Hoa province – Nha Trang. Each gift portion is worth $350,000 VND. Exception for victims with disabilities will receive gift portion worth $400,000 VND.
The rain made it even more difficult to hand out the gifts. Fortunately, the event was in the temple hall at Khanh Hoa, so people were able to wait for the rain to pass after receiving their gift portion.
We greatly appreciate our benefactors and wish you a Happy New Year fill with peace and happiness.
Sincerely,
Tu Bi Foundation
1. Pre-school in Tien Hoa commune = 2 electric rice cookers, 2 clean water filters
2. High school in Tien Hoa commune = 2 water purifiers
3. Elementary school in Tien Hoa commune – 2 water filters and 164 coats
4. Pre-school in Mai Hóa commune = 2 rice cookers and 2 clean water filters
5. High school in Mai Hóa commune = 2 clean water filters and 415 warm clothes
6. Medical Center in Châu Hóa commune = 1 clean water purifier
7. Community Center in Tien Hoa commune = 1 clean water purifier
8. Elementary school in Hải Thọ commune = 2 clean water purifier
Dear Benefactors;
Phú Mỡ is located 100 km far from Tuy Hòa city in the North West, Phú Mỡ highlands, Đồng Xuân district (Phú Yên) is separated from the delta, bordering Bình Định and Gia Lai. Due to its geographic location, Phú Mỡ has been named as “the highest, the farthest, the poorest, the hardest and the most heroic” of the province.
Phú Mỡ is still an extremely difficult commune, with poor, near poor households accounting for 75% to 80%. This is due to geographic conditions – it’s divided by many rivers and streams. The weather is very harsh, season of extended sunshine, even grass pasture is no more. During flood season, the whole commune was inundated, divided, and erode production land.
Finally, we were able to come to the people of Phú Mỡ, although roads were very difficult because of rain and flood. People waited to receive gifts from morning but our delegation didn’t reach Phú Mỡ till 5 pm. This was a difficult and dangerous trip.
On December 10th, the delegation tried to go to Phú Mỡ to give presents but because of rain, flood and 9km left the delegation had to return with the relief material. It is known that the people of Phú Mỡ have been isolated for a month. There are no charity groups to give gifts even though some delegations have tried, but have moved to another place because they can not go.
Heavy rain made traveling more difficult, on 25/12/2016 we decided to bring gifts to Phú Mỡ people because we did not want people to be disappointed and have to wait. The 100km drive took us 5 hours. As the mountain road was muddy and dangerous, the delegation had to take heavy trucks in to reach the people of Phú Mỡ. Tu Bi distributed 300 gifts for poor people and 306 shirts for students of Phú Mỡ primary school. As parents ourselves, w couln’t ignore when we see the students in this difficult situation.
A group of middle school students must swim the river twice a day just to get to school in recent days.
The incident happened at an ethnic minority school Đinh Núp in Phú Mỡ commune, Đồng Xuân district, Phú Yên province. Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) Newspaper posted some pictures taken by teacher Đặng Ngọc Thành of Đinh Núp school on Tuesday afternoon, September 20 after school. The ethnic minority pupils in Phú Lợi village swim by themselves, or cling to “floats”, which are hollow plastic containers, or carried on their back by the father on a river about 15 meters wide.
January 12, 2017
1. Rice seedling for maize, beans for 154 agricultural households 250,000d / 1 household in the rural farming village in Quảng Bình.
2. Renovation of the school and classrooms. In order to save money, Tu Bi volunteers join in with the workers to remodel the ceiling in 2 of the classroom. We saved 10 million ($500 U.S.)
On December 24, 2016: Buddhist monks and nuns from Bình Định Province, representatives of the Tu Bi Foundation, presented 600 gifts to flood-affected farmers who damaged the rice fields. Total expenditure $6000 U.S.
1. Hoài Ân district, Ân Mỹ and Ân Tín communes. Ân Hào Đông commune, 100 gifts at Binh Son Temple – Venerable Quảng Nhuận.
2. Tuy Phước – Phước Hòa: 150 gifts at Kim Thanh Temple – Bhikkhunī Đồng Phụng. 150 gifts at Luật Bình Temple, Venerable Thích Hữu Thông.
October 06, 2016
Tu Bi Foundation – Vietnam Buddhist Center, Sugar Land, Texas.
George Bell
Capital Area United Way
700 Laurel Street Baton Rouge, LA 70821
RE: Donation to the Louisiana Flood Victims
Tu Bi Foundation is a non-profit organization, established in 1993 by the Abbot of the Vietnam Buddhist Center (VNBC) in Houston, Texas. The Vietnamese word, “Tu Bi” was chosen because it represents compassion and loving-kindness. Our key mission is to raise money, primarily within our Vietnamese-American Buddhists community at large here throughout the U.S., to provide financial assistance to places worldwide affected by natural disasters.
The Vietnamese-American Buddhists here in the U.S. strongly and deeply felt the pain and suffering of our fellow Americans who were directly affected by the unprecedented flooding in southern Louisiana in August as many of us who before lived in Vietnam had gone through and experienced similar devastation. Thus, on behalf of the Vietnamese Buddhists community at large, Tu Bi Foundation would like to donate $28,604.00 (twenty eight thousands, six hundred, four dollars) to help the families, schools are still in needs of recovering their losses, particularly costly properties that they once owned and depended on for their daily life. We realize that many have lost significant amount of properties, and they are still struggling to get their lives back to normal. Thus, we are reaching out to our fellow Americans in Louisiana, and let them know that we stand together with them through difficult, challenging times.
Based on our conversations with Ms. Sarah H. Berthelot / President and CEO, Louisiana Association of United Ways, we would like to donate $14,302.00 to each of the two schools were badly damage by the flood. Ms. Sarah indicated: How can we partner? Based on our conversations, LAUW can work with the Capital Area United Way to make contact with schools who are in need of resources for restoration. We can work with local schools to discern how to best use donations –based on their specific challenges. For example: if your donation could provide $14,000 to 2 school sites, LAUW and CAUW would work to identify the needs of the schools, ensure the school follows through and then report the results back to you. We would stay in touch so your organization can be informed of the progress made with your donation.
We are grateful for your commitment to help Tu Bi Foundation to carry out the flood relief in Louisiana. On behalf of the Vietnamese American Buddhists community, Tu Bi Foundation would like to send our solemn prayer to all households in southern Louisiana for a speedy recovery.
Please con tact us at tubifoundation@gmail.com if you have any other questions. Rev. Thich Nguyen Dat, Vice President of Vietnam Buddhist Center in Sugar Land, Texas and Rev. Thich Dao Quang, abbot of Tam Bao Temple in Baton Rouge, LA will represent Tu Bi Foundation joining LAUW to deliver the checks to local school, please contact Rev. Dao Quang at 678-357-9877.
Sincerely yours,
Tu Bi Foundation
Wikipedia – 2016 Louisiana floods
Nepal Education Relief in August 2016, second visit to schools in Nepal
June 24, 2016
Nepal Earth Quake, 2015
Even though a little over one year has passed since the deadly earthquake struck Nepal in April 2015, many schools in remote, mountainous areas are still not completely rebuilt. Due to lack of funding, some schools still do not have the proper, required infrastructure to provide a safe learning environment for the students.
One such school is Namuna Evergreen English Boarding School, located in the remote, mountainous area of Nepal near the Tibetan border. Access to this school from the capital of Kathmandu is extremely difficult, challenging and dangerous as many parts of the roads are badly or completely damaged by the earthquake along with many landslides and floods due to heavy rainfalls. This school has nine classrooms and has around 200 students. Sadly, all classrooms don’t have doors and at least one to three windows are broken. Without doors and windows, there is no protection from the cold air or strong wind. On any given day with bad weather, particularly on many rainy days and cold days in the winter, students have to endure sitting in the classroom feeling cold. This adversely affects the students’ physical and psychological well-beings and their ability to stay focused and do all the writing in class. Moreover, the surrounding fence of the school where the playground is located is half damaged and was still not repaired since the earthquake. This fence is critical and extremely necessary as it provides protection and safety to the students. Without it, students can seriously and fatally injured if they fall down as the school is located on the slope of the mountain.
The school was extremely thankful to Tu Bi Foundation. Now there are proper windows and doors in all classrooms, as well as a durable metal fence surrounding the back of the school overlooking the mountain slope. This is like a dream comes true to the school and to all the students. The foundation has played a major role in helping the school’s reconstruction. For the coming winter, students will not be terribly affected by the cold air. Overall, the learning and safety environments of the school have improved significantly with the support of Tu Bi Foundation. Students are definitely benefiting from this as they now feel the school is so much safer and more comfortable, and they are more eager to come to school as their classrooms now have doors and glass windows that can be opened and closed.
Essential stationery items were also provided to all students of this school as well as a large public school (400 students) in this same mountainous town. Pencils, pens, erasers, pencil sharpeners, crayons, color pencils, and plastic folders were given to these students. Some footballs and small balls were also given to the schools so that students can have something to play with during recess.
Attached are pictures taken at the school, before and after the construction of the fence, doors and windows. Since this reconstruction is taking place during school time and that school is in session, it takes about two more weeks for the school to finish all the windows and doors. The school will provide more updated pictures once everything is complete.
Sincerely yours,
Jason Tran
Due to the remote, isolated mountainous area, it took much more time and resources to get the school supplies and materials for the school’s reconstruction. Materials in this remote area are limited. Road conditions from Kathmandu to remote area of these schools were extremely bad, damaged, and challenging (see attached pictures). Landslides are common due to heavy rainfalls. Driving to this area was very dangerous, exhausting, and painstakingly slow.
Expenditure for the Schools
1. School supplies for 600 students $1,050
2. Sport supplies for two schools (footballs, softballs, pumps) $ 50
3. Doors for nine classrooms (including painting and installation) $1,215
4. Windows for nine classrooms (including frames, glass, installation) $ 585
5. Metal fence for playground $ 600
TOTAL $3,500
Dear Benefactors;
Tu Bi Foundation is sincerely grateful to our benefactors Concept Solutions, friends from Norway and Vietnam for their help in the gifting project for Lunar New Year in Vinh Long and Binh Duong Province possible. Our purpose is not only provide New Year gift, but to give the association an opportunity persuade parents to not let their children drop out of school. Special for this trip we have sister Phong from Norway tending to the project in person.
In addition to rice, noodles, fish, cucumber, … we also give them prayer beads to encourage them to pray to any religion. In extreme suffering, everyone has dreams …
The association also gave milk for children, slippers, clothes, and mattresses for children to sleep on instead of the floor. The last time when visited, a family asked for a mattress because the new husband just had surgery. We bought a new bed for our family. We feel that this immediate help is practical and is urgent need of the poor. We also visited the children who were escaped from the life gathering trash and are now in care at the temple so they can go to school.
Thankfully Venerable Thich Thien Hue has promised every year that he will bring New Year gift to poor households living near the landfill in Vinh Long.
Video clips of poor people living near the landfill.
Sincerely,
Tu Bi Foundation
Dear Benefactors,
When we hear stories about the lives of those who live using the rubbish we emit daily, we want to do one something to help but we do not know of a practical way to be of assistance.
On 23/12/2015, Lieu Duyen and her friend from Norway visited some families living on the island at Vinh Long that survive by picking up nylon bags from the garbage that we emit daily. At the same time we went to the garbage dump with the workers and gather nylon garbage bags.
Surrounded by pollution, it is difficult to imagine that anyone can survive in such environment. But here there are hundreds of families from parents to children gathering trash. LD only worked with them for 30 minutes and became dizzy with headache. Her hands were swollen from using borrowing their gloves. This direct interaction gave LD an understanding of their difficult life and wish to find a way to help them.
Tu Bi Foundation
Nepal Earthquake Relief Report 2015
(Từ Bi Foundation – Chùa Việt Nam, Houston, Texas)
We sincerely appreciate your contribution. If there are any oversight, please contact office. The money raised will be sent to the American Red Cross (International). So far Từ Bi Foundation have sent $ 45,318 to the American Red Cross Association.
7/2015 Contribution List for Nepal
6/2015 RedCross Thank you letter
5/2015 Virginia fundraising for Nepal
5/2015 Fundraising letter for Nepal
Nepal EarthQuake Relief, July 2015
August 17, 2015
Dear Huyen,
I wanted to take a moment to provide you with an update about the work the American Red Cross has been able to do in Nepal thanks to the generosity of our donors like the Tu Bi Foundation. To date, the American Red Cross has raised over $35 million for the people of Nepal. We are so grateful for your generosity without which, our work would not be possible.
More than 36 American Red Cross disaster specialists have already deployed to Nepal to help with response activities ranging from emergency relief to distributing cash to victims to helping the country plan its recovery to providing IT and telecommunications support and remote mapping and information management giving relief workers on the ground the information they need to target where help is needed.
With monsoon season underway, people whose homes were destroyed are sleeping outside in the rain under tarps or in tents. The American Red Cross and the Red Cross global network are providing thousands of families with shelter toolkits – containing saws, nails, hammers, shovels and other items – as well as cash grants to help. In addition to sheltering materials, the American Red Cross continues to deliver vital relief items including hygiene kits, drinking water, blankets and health care supplies.
I’ve included below a link to view our Three Month Nepal Update so you can read more about the work the American Red Cross is doing in Nepal to recover and rebuild.
Three Month Nepal Update
I wanted to be sure to share with you our Facebook post from yesterday that features Francis and her paper crane project. We were so excited to have the outlet to share Francis’ beautiful gesture, the meaning of the cranes, and the impact it had upon the children of Nepal. If you have a moment, please visit the link I’ve included below.
https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossNationalCapitalRegion?fref=ts
Thank you so much for your overwhelming generosity, and I look forward to speaking with you again soon,
Nell
Nell Nutaitis
Major Gift Officer
American Red Cross
National Capital Region
8550 Arlington Blvd
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 713-2303 (p)
Dear Huyen,
ere are no words to express my gratitude for your continued support of our relief and recovery efforts in Nepal. Thank you so much for your incredible generosity as we continue to rebuild from the devastation of not one, but two major earthquakes.
Much has happened in the first month since the earthquake occurred. I’ve included below some links to provide you with an update on the work we’ve been doing, a brief slideshow with images from Nepal, and an interview with one of our disaster specialists who deployed a few days after the earthquake took place.
We could not do any of this work without the support of our donors like you. The generosity of the American public has been overwhelming, raising over $25 million to support relief efforts in Nepal. These funds are being used to provide earthquake survivors with essential relief supplies, such as water containers, tarps and kitchen sets and will continue to be distributed as future needs are determined.
Thank you so much for everything you’ve assist our efforts in Nepal,
Nell
Nell Nutaitis
Major Gift Officer
American Red Cross
National Capital Region
8550 Arlington Blvd
Fairfax, VA 22031
Dear Benefactors,
On behalf of the victims in peril by the earthquake in Nepal, Tu Bi Foundation would like to express our sincere appreciation to our teachers and benefactors for their contributions to “Nepal Earthquake Relief”. We have 1 more week before fundraising end. The money raised will be sent to the American Red Cross (International). Just when lives have not stabilized, 3 weeks later Nepal suffers a second earthquake, a 7.3 magnitude on 05.12.2015. To date over 8,200 people have died … I remember the earthquake and tsunami that happened to Japan in 2011. Tu Bi Foundation was grace with the opportunity to visit the refugee camp and live there for a few days, everyday there were after shock.
Currently in Nepal, hundreds of thousands of families are living in makeshift camps not knowing what will happen in the future, because Nepal was constantly experiencing shock the day after. Hunger, disease, homelessness … people are suffering endlessly!
So far, Tu Bi Foundation has sent $11,000 to the Red Cross, the total amount will be calculated on 05/20/2015. Fortunately, the money we raise will be match by the Red Cross 100%. This morning we received news from Red Cross of the current situation and that the money sent be distributed for tents to cover from the rain and sun, food, water … help victims settle into a centralize camps.
Tu Bi Foundation in Houston has donated $15,000. In Virginia, many supporters have promise to help and Tu Bi is waiting to receive their checks. The money we will raise is $ 5,851. We predict the total donation raise will be approximately $21,000 + Red Cross matching 100%, the final total will be $42,000. Thanks to the contributions of our benefactors, hundreds of families will be comforted and care for …
Names of Benefactors in Virginia
| Venerable Viên Trí | 100.00 |
| Nguyễn Thị Huệ | 50.00 |
| SC Lệ Châu | 50.00 |
| Vân Anh Bùi | 20.00 |
| Duong Hoa | 100.00 |
| Lê Văn Anh | 100.00 |
| Hội Gia Long | 1,000.00 |
| Lê Kim Tuyến | 1,000.00 |
| Hội Pháp Hoa | 500.00 |
| Lê Bích Huyền | 1,000.00 |
| Nguyen Phuong Khanh | 250.00 |
| Doan Thanh Thuy | 300.00 |
| Huong Brewster | 100.00 |
| Thầy Lý Phước Lộc và đệ tử | 500.00 |
| Tai Eden | 51.00 |
| Hoang Thị Thái | 100.00 |
| Chúc Giới | 100.00 |
| Miss Kim | 20.00 |
| Phạm Hải | 100.00 |
| Huong Mai Thi Parham | 60.00 |
| Loan Anh Tran | 100.00 |
| Khue My Nguyen | 50.00 |
| Huyen Chau Nguyen | 200.00 |
| Tổng cộng | 5,851.00 |
Tu Bi Foundation will continue to receive donation.
Tax send your tax deductible to:
Tu Bi Foundation
4901 Powell Road
Fairfax, VA 22032
Please sincerely pray for Nepal quick recovery, their lives stabilized, receive assistance from people all over the world, and the world will send material assistance as well as direct help to the people. (According to the News, all the parcels sent were subject to government review, while the people are hungry the supplies are stuck in one area. This is a form taking supply distributions from the people). So each of us need to remember to acquire merit in order to receive help from those around us.
We pray for peace to world and all living beings. Please burn incense and direct your prayer for the deceased and rebirth to a peaceful world. That the family and relatives of the deceased will have energy to overcome this difficulty.
2015 Nepal VirginiaTBF RedCross.pdf
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An average of 91 cents of every dollar the American Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.Vietnam Buddhist Center
Announcement
Houston, May 1, 2015
Dear friends,
On April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal killing 7,250 people and the body count could reach 10,000. Over 14,325 people are homeless and living in the open air unable to return to their destroyed or unstable home.
In the face of such devastation, we ask you to open your compassionate heart and financially help the earthquake victims of Nepal.
Please send your tax-deductible donation to either of the address below:
1) Từ Bi Foundation
10002 Synott Rd
Sugar Land, TX 77498
Tel/ 281 – 575 – 0910
Memo: Nepal Relief
2) Từ Bi Foundation
4901 Powell Rd
Fairfax, VA 22032
Tel/ 571 – 437 – 6997
Memo: Nepal Relief
The fundraising will end on May 20, 2015, so we can total the amount and forward to organization(s) that have the ability to help the victims in Nepal.
Much appreciation,
Venerable Nguyên Đạt
Vietnam Buddhist Center
10002 Synott Rd
Sugar Land, Texas 77498
(281) 575-0910
Donation status from hurricane Hayian on November 11, 2013 in Philippines.
http://tubifoundation.org/category/cuu-tro/phi-luat-tan/
Tu Bi Foundation
Dear Lyta, Vangie, Lottie and All FtH and CITAA-ESB Officers and Members:
This is the April 25th, 2015 Update on the 4-Classroom Kabangbang Project from our CITAA Inspector, Architect Ulysses Castillo together with pictures to show the progress. We are almost there and this update truly is exciting as very soon, we will be seeing a completely finished school building.
Tita Dumagsa
Project Liaison
CITAA/CITAA-ESB
Elementary school in Kabangbang Aprl 29, 2015
Water Well Construction in Bihar India – 04/27/2015
Peaceful Pure Water Well, 3/29/2015 – Remembrance and Appreciation
Dear Benefactors;
Below are some pictures of the 15 wells in Cà Mâu and 7 wells in India to commemorate in appreciation to the late Venerable Thích Trí Tịnh.
Lieu Duyen has been involved in charitable activities in Vietnam many times, but she usually travel from September to December. Traveling in March is not as easy because of the susceptibility to ‘heat stroke’ since the temperature range from 100-103′ F. For 2 days in a row we were outdoor the entire day – riding a motorbike, taxi, boat, and working with the locals in U Minh province. So by the time we return to Saigon, we needed an entire day of rest, we discovered our skin was burned because we didn’t have experience doing charity during the hot season (next time we will apply many layers of sun protection).
Lieu Duyen and Ms. Nghia represent Tu Bi Foundation, traveling via Phuong Trang Guest Car from Saigon to Ca Mau over night. By the time we reach Ca Mau, we only have time to change our clothes, eat breakfast, and proceed directly to inaugurate the bridge at U Minh. At Ca Mau, the elders in the Buddhist charity group were incredible, enthusiastic and hard working. The joy of doing charity work in remote areas is that the local authorities are very concern for the people and are grateful for the gifts that we built for their region. People are happy, their happiness is clearly visible on their faces. In their house they have grown bananas and papayas which they present freshly picked for the delegation.
The Peaceful Pure Water Project was very meaningful to us as it is a program that Buddhist groups in Virginia, California, and Maryland have contributed to commemorate in gratitude to the late Venerable Thích Trí Tịnh. Thanks to his translation and compilation, many generations have access to sutras to study and chanting.
Tu Bi Foundation has built seven wells in India on the 49th day of the venerable passing. On the 1 year anniversary, the Peaceful Pure Water Well Project have completed construction of 15 wells in U Minh and Ca Mau province – our sincere appreciation and remembrance.
In India, Venerable Tánh Tuệ dedication and continuous effort to go from one village to another to build water well accessible to more than 50 families. We would like to thank you for your hard work in our programs to benefit all sentient beings.
U Minh province is an agricultural area, mostly forest with no roads – it is only accessible by boat. The distance between homes is very remote so choosing a location that is accessible for many families to share was not an easy task. It took the entire day for the delegation to travel to all 15 water wells. Without these wells, the families will have to bathe and wash their clothes in water ponds nearby and use rainwater to drink.
Most of the families who receive water wells are ethnic minority living in remote region; hence, their understanding is limited so we need to go to each well to examine the odor and check for alum. We also remind them to get/use the water regularly to maintain it’s quality.
In the past, there was a family that receive a well water but didn’t know how to use it, instead of pumping water from the well they took water from a nearby pond and poured it into the well. So the well water became red with alum. Since then LD has asked local officials to explain clearly to people on how to use the water well when construction is done.
After finishing the work, we boarded Phuong Trang guest car to travel overnight back to Saigon and Lieu Duyen return to the United States.
Much appreciation to Buddhist donors in VA, CA and MD
Tu Bi Foundation
Water Well Project – India 3/2014
Tu Bi Foundation is grateful to the Buddhist community for contributing to our Clean Water Construction Project near Bodhgaya and Nalanda, India. We dedicate this merit to Venerable Thich Minh Tân at Viet-Nam Buddhist Temple passing on February 4, 2014
Much appreciation goes to Venerable Tánh Tuệ for tirelessly overseeing the completing the 5 Water Wells so that we can dedicate and pray for Venerable Minh Tân return to Buddha’s Land.
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Nay kínhTu Bi Foundaiton, VA
Huyen Le – Lieu Duyen