Krishna
Disaster
Relief
Our Mission: Krishna Disaster Relief is a global, independent & nonprofit organization dedicated to providing vegetarian meals during natural and man-made disasters. 501(c)(3) Non-profit Status Pending
Representing the American Red Cross, in 1990 Mr. Bobby Baines flew from Washington, D.C. to meet with the founder of Krishna Disaster Relief (Ronald E. Boutelle) where Mr. Baines expressed the fact that during disasters, nowhere within FEMA, NOVAD, or the American Red Cross was anyone providing vegetarian meals to disaster victims. He told Ronald how the dietary landscape in America had drastically changed over the years and that relief agencies were struggling to fulfill the requirements of the large vegetarian population they were now encountering. This conversation took place at the Denver Federal Center and is why Mr. Baines was eager to "fast track" Krishna Disaster Relief's membership into America's premier disaster relief organizations. Providing these vegetarian meals is at the core of Krishna Disaster Relief's mission; feeding the victims of both manmade and natural disasters; both within and outside the United States.
Another aspect of our Mission revolves around Ronald's teacher, who in 1965 arrived in America from India. A.C. Bhaktivedanta's appearance in the West was motivated by the very thing he was most fond of: his love for God. This was his mission: to introduce us to a deeper and new perspective of God ("Krishna" in Sanskrit) and to increase mankind's love for Him. Shrila Prabhupada said, “Because I love Krishna (God), I want everybody - the whole world to love Krishna, too.” This sentiment is truly the sign of a great saint, from any religion.
In 1968 the founder of Krishna Disaster Relief was first introduced to Lord Krishna. He wanted to know more but the Vietnam War and his draft notice put all of that on hold. Therefore it wasn't until 1976 that Ronald finally became A.C. Bhaktivedanta's full-time student. In 1990, after responding to a tornado that destroyed major parts of Limon, Colorado and seeing with his own eyes the heroic efforts on the part of so many volunteers, Ronald suddenly realized that Krishna Disaster Relief could one day become key in fulfilling the very reason that his teacher had come to America in the first place.
Even with life's ups and downs, Ronald's time in the United States Air Force was not fully wasted, especially when he was shown a film about the 1964 earthquake that did significant damage to Anchorage, Alaska. He watched a film with about fifty other soldiers, highlighting the response and rescue efforts by the Air Force. The immediate and emotional affect that everyone felt by watching this film was unmistakable and overwhelming, driving home to Ronald the powerful fact that universally, everyone loves a hero.
An essential aspect of love is appreciation and on August 19, 1972, A.C. Bhaktivedanta spoke about this appreciation and said: "This is the beginning of spiritual life. People are praising our activities and this APPRECIATION is a lift for such persons…even if he or she doesn't hear; doesn't come; but simply says, 'it is very nice.' ...Yes!" Once again, on May 9th, 1975 during a morning walk in Perth Australia, he said: "If they simply APPRECIATE ...(if they say) 'It is very nice,' …then in (their) next birth, human life is guaranteed; in a very nice family. Simply if he APPRECIATES."
A.C. Bhaktivedanta loved Krishna and he simply wanted the whole world to love Him, too. This was his heart's desire: his dream. Fulfillment of this dream is also the mission of Krishna Disaster Relief: a mission that embraces Krishna (God) as the Greatest Hero. In the future there are other areas of disaster relief that Krishna Disaster Relief will be working to provide: from search & rescue to a fully functional field hospital.
Limon Colorado - Where it all began. Arriving a few days after an F-3 Tornado smashed into Limon, Colorado, much to his surprise, Ronald Boutelle discovered an entirely different category of homelessness. It was right there, at that very moment in time when an enormous paradigm shift occurred when he discovered people who were "temporarily homeless due to a natural disaster." Even more telling, unlike the homeless on the streets of Denver who in general expressed little appreciation, the victims of this tornado showered Ronald with their sincerest gratitude. So it was this tornado, along with his military service in the United States Air Force that led to the creation of Krishna Disaster Relief.
The Limon, Colorado tornado was the perfect storm that on one hand was so destructive but on the other, monumental in connecting all the dots for the creation of Krishna Disaster Relief. Click Here to watch a 1990 video that documents what happened on that fateful day.
Photo taken by Ronald Boutelle when he arrived in Limon