Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We’ve all heard the story: In the summer of 1966, ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada acquired a storefront space in New York’s Bowery neighborhood with the help of a couple disciples. It had previously been a curio shop, the name of which Srila Prabhupada found quite suiting to his mission of spreading Krishna consciousness: Matchless Gifts. This would become the birthplace of ISKCON worldwide.
Despite all the transformations that New York has undergone throughout the years, 26 2nd Avenue remains a place of sacred pilgrimage to tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world. This is truly a testament to the global community of devotees who have come together with the united purpose of preserving this sacred space. We would like to thank the GBC and all the devotees who have been a part of this effort over the years. It is incredible that ISKCON still maintains the space after 53 years.
If it means something to you that Matchless Gifts remain an available asset to the worldwide community of devotees – please consider becoming a monthly donor to keep this tirtha alive. Around this time of year, as we all plan our end of year charitable gifts, we understand that most of you have local temples and other projects that you support on a regular basis. We encourage you to continue to champion those causes. Therefore, we are asking for a relatively small amount – just $26/month for 26 2nd Avenue. You can donate at http://krishnanyc.com/donate
If you are not able to become a monthly supporter, one-time donations are always welcome, but what we’re really in need of is an ongoing, recurring commitment of at least $26 monthly. If you can do $15 or $20/month, that’s great too! Maybe someone else will be inspired to do $51/month. The important thing is the commitment to a recurring contribution.
In April 2019, the board of directors of ISKCON of 26 2nd Avenue entered into a new 12-year lease with the owners of the storefront. That’s great news since devotees from all over the world come to visit this place that we have all read about in the Prabhupada Lilamrita and the many exciting memoirs of Prabhupada’s earliest disciples.
Matchless Gifts is a part of our heritage. Each one of us has a stake in this holy tirtha and seeing that it continues to be a place of pilgrimage. Matchless Gifts is, of course, one of only a few projects that are truly of global significance. It means something to all of us. We all want to keep its doors open for the whole society. All of us who have been there have felt Srila Prabhupada’s mercy, still tangible in that small space, and want to make that mercy available to others as well.
We’ve doubled our number of monthly supporters over the past couple years, and we’re only $800 short of our goal! Please don’t assume “someone else will do it.” This is a great opportunity to be a part of service to this historic tirtha. To those of you already contributing, thank you so, so much. To those of you who may be looking for something significant to contribute to at this end of the year holiday season, please consider signing on to give $26 to 26 today. http://krishnanyc.com/donate
Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Your servant,
Yadunath das
ISKCON of 26 2nd Avenue
Treasurer
info@krishnanyc.com