Website Impact! Humanity First Foundation (HFF) donates 17 Wheel Chairs to Disabled Persons
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved. God doesn’t require us to succeed, he only requires that you try. It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in. I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things. A life not lived for others is not a life. Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” – Mother Teresa
Mangaluru: Talk about the power of media, especially Electronic media where we highlight the civic issues and within few hours or few days the concerned authorities who can’t bear the criticism about their negligence, quickly get into action and rectify the civic issues. In the past Mangalorean.com has highlighted various civic issues through our website, and there has been a tremendous effect with most of the problems being fixed in no time, from rectifying dilapidated roads, open drainage, non-friendly footpaths, dog menace etc etc.
Apart from solving civic issues through our non-bias reports, we have also played a vital role in publishing appeals/requests of those persons seeking financial aid for their medical expenses, education, housing project etc- and the response has been tremendous where we collected a large sum of money for these needy people. Now we have added yet another feather in our cap, by being successful in getting a quick response to an article named “He Ain’t Heavy-He’s my brother! Dad-son-lost-legs-now-beggars” published on 20 January 2017, and a request was made in the article asking for wheelchairs to the persons portrayed in the article- and the response has been tremendous with people coming forward to lend their helping hand.
We had calls from Gulf and Canada from our readers who are ready to offer wheelchairs and other necessities for the people in need. The first person to respond to our report was Fr Oniel-the director of St Anthony’s Ashram who was willing to give two wheelchairs- and then came a call from a “Good Samaritan” by the name of Sharon Alva from Muscat, who is also the National Secretary of Humanity First Foundation (HFF), who was ready to offer 17 wheelchairs. Overwhelmed with such a good response, we organized a “Wheel Chairs Donation” on Tuesday, 7 February at St Anthony’s Ashram hall. Dr Olinda Pereira- Founder of Vishwas Trust was the Chief guest, and guests of honour were Fr Oniel- Director of St Anthony’s Ashram-Mangaluru, Violet Pereira -Proprietor and editor-in-chief of Mangalorean.com and Sharon Alva- National secretary of HHF.
Addressing the gathering Dr Olinda Pereira said, “HHF along with Mangalorean.com have done a marvelous job in organizing this project to help those in need. In the present world, so many suffer relentless poverty, each day wondering at living another; so many are refugees from disaster or violence, escaping under unfamiliar skies to avoid a closer death, grasping whatever it is they have left – a child, ragged clothes, a pot to cook in; so many are victims of injustice, of the vagaries of despotism or ill luck, with no legal system to which they can bring their wisps of hope.”
“Yet despite the increasing vulnerability of life on Earth, we may well be coming to terms with the ‘marble and mud’ of our existence. For in the spring stirrings of the last few years, there seems a new grace born upon this world, perhaps nothing less than a resurrection of humanity. Not least, we are understanding more clearly that our living – this one-shot, too-quick breath of existence – must embrace an inherent responsibility towards the living of others. In concert with this realization, we should pay finer attention to two crucial questions: “How deeply do I care about our common future? How do I actually make a positive difference? I am glad that HFF is doing a yeoman job in bringing awareness about Humanity, and at the same time helping those in needs. Thanks also to mangalorean.com team who are also involved in many community services and helping those in distress. May God bless you all”, added DrwheelchairsOlinda.
Sharon Alva also speaking about the vision and objectives of HFF said, ” Not every day you get to volunteer for a cause that is so close to your heart, for which you feel incredibly satisfied mainly because you acted in a way that is so steady with your principles. The feeling that “Yes, I made a positive change in the society into the lives of the others” is un-matchable. No wonder, it makes you feel alive and your good deed does spread the joy of sharing and giving, making this world a better place to live. Although many of us have that strong urge to work for our society and its upliftment, half of the time we fail to get across a community which we can rely on, a community which is not only transparent but is run by a common man just like us who have no ulterior motives behind it, and that’s precisely where HFF – Humanity First Foundation comes into picture.”
“I hereby request you to join HFF for a few reasons like- Because it Will Empower You, and you, in Turn, Will Empower a Thousand Others; Because Even the Weakest Link Transforms Into the Most Powerful; Because People in Trouble, Prefer Approaching HFF instead of running to the Police or Local Politician; Because It Lets You Exercise Your Rights, Duty, Power and Responsibilities; Because HFF Knows That Your Anger Towards the Society Should Not Just Be Restricted to Social Media; Because Your Source Can Save Someone’s Life; Because it is Better to be Alarmed than Be a Passive Citizen; Because it Knows that Our Protectors too Need Help Sometimes; Because it is by the People, for the People, and Of the People; Because it Needs You, Yes You…etc” added Alva.
He further said, “Unless and until you the citizen participate, HFF cannot solve huge problems of the people in various corners of India. Unless you participate, India cannot fight against the political bullies that pressurize us everytime the common man try to do something big, and unless you take part, the so-called wrong people won’t be transformed into the “right people! H.F.F. Initiates a very noble and big cause…To join the revolution you can check for further details you can check on our official website http://humanityfirstfoundation.org/”
Fr Oniel also spoke and complimented HFF and Mangalorean.com for a very heartwarming project which has made a difference in the lives of many differently-abled persons- you all will be blessed by God for your humanitarian service and being a Good Samaritans to those in need. Fr Oniel then offered two wheelchairs from his side to the two street beggars- Joseph, who spends time begging and doing a light cobbler job near Mangalore Central Railway Station, and Manjunath, who begs for alms in front of Ideal Pabbas. Joseph had lost one leg in an accident, and Manjunath has lost both the legs, also in the accident. The other 17 wheel chairs were distributed among –
Seon Ashram-Ujire; Mother Teresa Home-Mangaluru; St Agnes Special School, Bendore-Mangaluru; Veronica Vihar, Mary Hill-Mangaluru; Snehasadan, Gurpur-DK; Jeevandan, Gurpur-DK; Prashanth Nivas, Jeppu-Mangaluru; St Anthony Ashram, Jeppu-Mangaluru; Vishwas Trust, Valencia-Mangaluru; Ave Maria Palliative Care, Vamanjoor-Mangaluru, and two differently-abled persons residing at their respective homes but care taken by a NGO. Mangalorean.com will be donating more wheelchairs to the deserving needy and disabled folks when our donors come down from Gulf and Canada in the nearest future or during Christmas time.
Our humanitarian service and helping the downtrodden and less-privileged doesn’t end with this project- this is our first venture with HFF, but we will continue to be associated with HFF in helping the society in days and years to come. And for this we still need the support from the public/well-wishers to continue in our mission to serve the less fortunate/disabled, so please donate generously towards our future projects, so that we can continue with the good work that we and HFF are all entrusted with. Team Mangalorean thanks the members of Humanity First Foundation and Fr Oniel Director of St Anthony Charitable Institution for their support and making this project a success.
According to Mathew 25:35-36, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, ….”, we should know that giving is something done voluntarily. Giving should not be done under compulsion, coercion, duress, or conviction. There are some exceptions, of course. When you do give, you are to give what you have chosen in your heart. Those who take pity on those less fortunate than us are true neighbors and caregivers..”
In conclusion, the joy of being able to bless and give someone you love and care, and to make them smile, is priceless. The satisfaction that comes from making a difference in the lives of others cannot be overstated. Knowing that you have helped make someone else’s life a little brighter and better is a special feeling and one that will last with you for a long time. And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy. So if you are looking for a way to enhance your act of sharing and giving experience, try giving back now. Let’s give to the less fortunate, ashrams, non-profit organizations, needy families and children, and others a feeling of hope, and make a difference in their lives. So if you like to contribute and join in our efforts to help the needy you can call Mangalorean.com office at 0824-4252851 or email at : info@mangalorean.com
