New Jersey: In late 2001, a group of compassionate people had joined together and decided to lend their hands to help people who were suffering from various crisis. To fulfill their plans, they formed an organization under the title, ‘HelpSaveLife.’ The motto of their mission was ‘Lend a Hand to Mend a Life.’ Two decades later, their organization spread wings and has grown to one of the major charity organizations that provides help and support to thousands of people across the world.
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” These words of Mother Teresa, the human face of compassion, are the driving force of this charitable organization. HelpSaveLife, which celebrates its 20th anniversary on November 1st, 2021, is working diligently to expand its services and assistance for the poor and needy.
Founded on November 1, 2001, by a handful of service-minded volunteers, the organization has grown to a major charity organization having more than 800 members (who have contributed to the cause at least once) and over 200 active members (regular contributors).
Over the period of two decades, the organization has aided worth US$1.13 million (approximately Rs.8 crores in current exchange rate) to more than 1,500 beneficiaries. A major chunk of the requests received by the organization were for medical help, while it also received numerous applications seeking educational assistance. When calamities such as Covid-19, floods/landslides devastated the world the organization was in the forefront to help the affected people.
Activities of the organization
HelpSaveLife is a non-profit organization formed with a goal of providing financial assistance for medical treatment to the deserving families and provide educational assistance to poor children. Regardless of race, color or nationality, the organization lent its hand to provide care and support to people across the globe. Although the predominant focus of the organization is to provide medical and educational assistance, it always takes effort to help the people in any kind of difficulties.
As part of this, steps have been taken in a small-scale manner to construct houses for poor families. The organization ensures that every effort is made to deliver assistance as quickly as possible to deserving families after validating the genuineness of the requests for assistance. Usually, the organization collects requests through its members, who make sure that the request is genuine and submit to the group for help. At the same time, the organization also takes all-out efforts to reach out to as many people as possible.
The organization, which receives donations and contributions from its members, provide assistance to people who are directly known to the members, or after being convinced by the genuineness of the applications. Currently, the organization processes six requests per month. In addition to this, members can post emergency requests, which will be processed immediately to ensure assistance on time.
Special Fundraising
Human beings are often helpless in preventing natural disasters, pandemics such as Covid-19 and many other disasters. However, giving a helping hand to the victims of a tragedy is a great act of piety. Taking this into account, the organization always takes care to raise funds with an objective to help people in the event of disasters such as floods and earthquakes. When massive floods had torn off Kerala in 2018, HelpSaveLife swung into action and donated about US$16,500 USD to help as many as 29 families. Later, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country in May 2021, the organization raised around $38,000 and helped as many as 45 families. The fundraising program continues to be active with a goal of reaching out to more people, who are affected by the pandemic.
Another aftermath of the Covid outbreak was that people were confined to their own houses. When schools and colleges were shut down, education became digital, forcing the children to depend on mobile phones, laptops or computers. As the digital divide among people made education costly for poor families, the organization came forward to provide mobile phones to over 50 poor children.
In view of massive landslides and ensuing floods in October 2021 caused widespread damages in Kerala, the organization is raising a new flood relief fund to help those who lost their homes and all their belongings. The plan is to provide Rs 50,000 each to the families whose houses have been damaged. Those who are interested in contributing to this fund can visit the website and make your donation.
20th Anniversary Year Projects
The organization is also launching a few new projects to coincide with its 20th anniversary. Important among these are the steps taken to bring the youth into the field of philanthropy. As part of this, a youth section of HelpSaveLife has been started and steps have been taken to involve school and college students in charitable activities in their own creative ways. It aims to ensure the participation of the youth in training poor students in education and other skills, providing volunteer services to neighborhood charitable organizations, organize fundraisers etc.
In addition, the organization plans to set up a HelpSaveLife India Trust to assist with the operations in India. The organization also aims to organize a raffle program to help people who are already waiting in the queue for medical or educational support.
Tax deduction for donations
Contributions of compassionate people are always the backbone of all charitable activities. The HelpSaveLife organization is also being driven by the generous support of many such people. However, as requests for help are increasing over the days, the organization is trying to raise more funds to serve all the help requests. Since HelpSaveLife is a registered charity organization, donations are 100% tax deductible under Section 501 (c) 3 of the US Income Tax Act.
Come on, let’s work together, for the good of all, for a better tomorrow.
Contact addresses and phone numbers
Remy Chirayil (President) – 908-268-8883
Lalu Vazhekattu (Secretary) – 303-596-3472)
Benny Davis (Treasurer )– 720-493-8726)
Sojimon James (Treasurer) – 732-939-0909)
Website: www.HelpSaveLife.org
Email: HelpSaveLifeUSA@gmail.com
