New Jersey: HelpSaveLife, a New Jersey-based charity, is completing its 21-years of charitable service on November 1, 2022. With the motto “Lend a hand to mend a life”, the organization has provided financial assistance of US$1.34 Million (more than ten crore Indian rupees at today’s rate) to more than 1600 poor families in last 21 years. More than 850 people have contributed to the organization at least once.
The organization mainly does two types of charity work:-
• Provide medical assistance to the deserving poor.
• Provide financial assistance to needy students to study in school or college.
Along with this, it also provides assistance by forming special funds during disasters like floods and earthquakes. This fund is mainly used for housing reconstruction.
When the Covid-19 pandemic spread globally, HelpSaveLife created a special Covid fund, collected US$42,000 and helped 53 families. Flood Relief fund created last year to help those who lost their homes and belongings in the floods in Kerala last October (2021) raised US$11,200 and helped 13 families.
HelpSaveLife’s donations for 2022 alone are as follows. So far, US$97,079 has been disbursed for the medical treatment of 76 individuals. Helped 20 needy students to pursue their higher education providing US$20,727. Donated US$11,228 to 8 families who lost their homes due to the flood or otherwise and assisted in building houses.
Through the Sponsor-A-Student program for school/college students, 33 children were supported paying US$13,537. The organization was also able to provide nearly $5,000 to various aid projects in Africa.
Assistance is granted only to those who are directly known to the members of HelpSaveLife or member should ascertain that the help requestor deserves the assistance. At present six or more requests per month are taken up and processed. Apart from this, steps are also taken to provide immediate assistance to certain requests in case of urgent need. 100% of funds raised by the organization is used for charity. Since most of the members are from Kerala, most of the aid goes to Kerala. Because HelpSaveLife is a registered charity, donations in the US are 100 percent tax deductible based on (501)(c)(3) Income Tax Act.
Charitable activities are supported and upheld by the donations of helpful people. The organization is driven forward by the continuous contributions of many volunteers. With more and more requests for help coming in, the organization need the financial support of even more generous individuals. It is built on Mother Teresa’s words, “If you cannot help a hundred people, then help one”.
More information on the activities of the organisation are available in their website www.HelpSaveLife.org