Share Your Care started a new patronage program where we appeal to yatras and individuals who want to support Ukrainian Yatra in these difficult times to focus their attention on one particular yatra, family, or individual. In this section of our website, you can find eligible candidates for your ongoing support.

Share Your Care team has carefully studied each case and carefully vetted all projects and individuals listed here and although you as a patron will have a direct connection and communication with your respective beneficiary, we will also keep monitoring the situation and make sure that not only all your funds are properly utilized and timely reports are sent to you but also that the status is constantly updated and your financial commitment is adjusted accordingly.

Here are just some of the Yatras that need your assistance

Become a Patron for Melitopol Yatra

The Melitopol Yatra needs help. Unfortunately, the hardest hit is the yatras under occupation. Deprived of the opportunity to earn money, devotees need the bare necessities of life.

Before the war, the Melitopol Yatra consisted of 80 devotees. But now, there are only half left. Here is what Omkarahari Prabhu, one of the yatra leaders says:

“Hare Krsna, dear devotees. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. My name is Omkarahari das, I am from Ukraine, the town of Melitopol. The town of Melitopol is located in the east of Ukraine, it is a small town which is called the Gates to the Crimea. Right now Melitopol is occupied by the Russian Federation.

Almost all enterprises are closed down. Everyone is jobless, prices for all the groceries are soaring, both for the most necessary ones and absolutely everything. Prices have increased by 3-4 times. However, we meet regularly, we hold Sunday feast programs, namahats. Our main project is Food for Life. This is the project that united the whole yatra. Local devotees gathered together around this project. This project is very much necessary not only for devotees who come, but also for those people who come to us. These are mostly elderly people who have no pension left, they have no social support. The situation is quite difficult for the devotees at present. And all the devotees lost their jobs, they have no social security payments…”

Become a Patron for Mykolaiv Yatra

Sastrakrit Prabhu is telling about how Mykolaiv yatra now lives.

“This is the city closest to the frontline in the South of Ukraine. It is daily bombarded with projectiles. Most devotees have been evacuated to safer regions. But still, there are devotees who are still staying there: they cannot leave their parents behind, someone is in such poor health that they cannot survive the relocation. The temple is still holding everyday programs and Sunday feast programs. The Food for Life program is a crucial element in the city’s social life – people come to get hot prasadam and Srila Prabhupada’s books. The locals have always loved harinamas on the streets, but now there is special meaning attached to harinamas – it is a symbol that spiritual life continues even when everything around collapses. It is quite interesting that the construction works done in the yatra just before the war had to do with repairing the basement… It was really destiny. Now devotees often go down there because of air raids. The devotees remain enthusiastic in serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission and are confident that things will get better. They are very humble and hardworking. Caring for these wonderful devotees is the source of great joy for us.”

The amount of monthly expenses is USD 1650. Expenses include maintaining elderly devotees who have been evacuated to safer locations. Personally or through the efforts of your community, you can take patronage over the Mykolaiv Yatra.

Become a Patron for Kherson Yatra

The city of Kherson has been occupied for 5 months, its territory is not under Ukrainian control. The city is right on the south front line. People are forced to evacuate from Kherson via third countries, such as Georgia, as crossing the front line is very dangerous for life.

Stoka Krishna Prabhu, the community leader, tells about the situation in which the devotees found themselves and thanks for the help:

“…From the very moment hostilities broke out in the Kherson region, the devotees found themselves in various difficult life situations. Someone has lost a job and a source of income to support their family. Half of the community was forced to move out and leave their homes. Some devotees needed financial support in order to receive qualified medical care. And all these five months, Share your care fund has been there for us, providing very timely and relevant support. The fund has already helped dozens of devotees from Kherson and their families.

Despite all the obstacles, the Vaishnavas remaining in Kherson are still gathering to chant the holy names. Every Sunday, devotees hold a program, study the holy scriptures together. Twice a week the devotees hold small harinama in the city. Every morning the devotees attend the Srimad Bhagavatam class in Zoom. Devotees distribute prasadam as part of the Food for Life program every week. All this has become possible also thanks to the huge support that the Kherson devotees receive through the Share your care fund.”

Our team is very happy that we can help these devotees. You personally or your community can take the patronage over them. The approximate monthly budget is USD 1,200 to help Kherson Yatra.

There are many Yatras that need help at this time, please visit Share Your Care’s Patronage page to see more campaigns you can donate to.