Cost-of-Living Grant Supports Dreamsai's Lifesaving Food Initiative
Who are Dreamsai and what do they do?
Dreamsai is an inclusive charity dedicated to serving diverse community groups, regardless of race, colour, age, or sex. Humanity is at the heart of everything they do. Their objectives include promoting the teachings of Shirdi Saibaba, providing food and essentials to the homeless and needy, and raising awareness of blood donation, bone marrow, and stem cell donation within the Indian community.
Dreamsai is powered by volunteers from all walks of life, who dedicate their time to support the community. They run various projects that meet the needs of different communities and strengthen the social fabric. The group relies on voluntary digital donations, making them one of the first charities and Indian temples to accept digital-only donations since inception.
What support did Dreamsai need?
The cost-of-living crisis of 2022 brought unprecedented challenges, significantly increasing the demand for Dreamsai's services. Referrals from schools, local authorities, charities, and communities increased by up to 30%.
To continue meeting the growing needs, Dreamsai applied for a grant to support their vital "Food for Sai" project.
The funding aimed to sustain the charity's food initiatives throughout 2023, including: Cooked meals, Food parcels and Breakfast packs
These services are crucial for local schools, homeless communities, domestic violence survivors, refugees, and individuals experiencing financial hardship.
What difference did the grant make?
The £9,884 Cost-of-Living grant was crucial in ensuring the "Food for Sai" project could continue and meant the charity could maintain its food charity projects.
Collaboration with the MK Food Bank and local supermarkets allowed Dreamsai to reach local schools, homeless communities, domestic violence survivors, refugees, and those in financial hardship.
The project also had a positive impact on youth volunteers, who managed end-to-end processes such as planning, volunteer allocation, procurement, packing, and distribution.
This hands-on experience created a sense of responsibility and community involvement among the youth, strengthening the community support network.
“I believe that you are the kindest people on this planet. You kept many people who are in the same situation as me alive.”
Norman, Food parcel recipient.
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About the author
MK Community Foundation