Report by: Mr. Gyanu Dulal, Vice President Punya Foundation USA
Mr Gyanu Dulal, Vice President, USA
Punya foundation is established with a mission to help and empower the needy population through education, advocacy, and social support. It has been supporting orphans and families living under poverty in Nepal and in African countries since its establishment. As the foundation was planning to support such population in the USA, the pandemic hit the world and we were forced to halt the ongoing programs not to even start the plan here.
Cleaning Program, City of Reynoldsburg, 2022
The foundation has been distributing warm blankets to the homeless population in Texas for years with an initiative of Mr. Sudip Adhikari (Punya Foundation President for the USA). This year we, I myself and Mr Roshan Shankar, Punya Foundation Community Outreach Director, represented the foundation and participated in the community cleaning event jointly organized by the GBHO and the BCCO in collaboration with the city of Reynoldsburg on 10/15/2022. The first Bhutanese elected to the city council, Mr. Bhuwan Pyakurel coordinated the plan with the city and the community.
The foundation also coordinated and jointly organized the winter coats/jackets and snacks distribution with the GBHO and the BCCO in Columbus on 10/29/2022. The homeless collocation, the first Methodist church for all people, and Ohio means jobs helped us identify the location and reserve the hall for the distribution. We were advised to plan for 150 to 180 individuals and families in total, so we purchased the items and mobilized volunteers and prepared 120 packets for male, female, and kids. But we ran out of the supplies within half an hour. It is one of the few other events where we were able to introduce the presence of the foundation to the local community. We see a big need in the community, and we are encouraged to plan such events in the future.