ISKCON’s Food for Life is the world’s largest vegetarian food distribution program serving thousands of meals daily throughout the world in over 60 countries.
In Mumbai, last year ISKCON Juhu distributed more than 10 lakh plates of prasada meal and 6 million cups of halava / kichari in and outside the temple premises. The above mentioned prasada meals were distributed to underprivileged during several festivals, as part of Anna Dan Seva initiative during Makar Sankranti, at temple anniversary celebrations and many other occasions.
In 1974, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, shocked and saddened upon seeing a group of village children in Mayapur (near Kolkata) fighting with street dogs over scraps of food, told his disciples: “No one within ten miles of a temple should go hungry . . . I want you to immediately begin serving food.” Heeding to Prabhupada plea, ISKCON devotees around the world were inspired to expand that original effort into a global network.
In the 1970’s, ISKCON expanded its vision of prasadam distribution and developed the Food for Life program to target food distribution to the less fortunate. In many cities special food distribution vehicles were purchased and daily delivery routes to low-income areas began.