Local
SIM members are actively involved in a number of community and worldwide humanitarian efforts. Listed below are a sampling of the organizations that SIM members support. The outreach efforts that are lead and/or coordinated by SIM members list the email address of the appropriate person for more information.
St. John’s Shelter
SIM is involved in sponsoring and staffing a bi-monthly meal for the 100 women and children at the St. John’s Shelter. See Dinner at St. Johns (same link) for an article on the experience of working in the St. John’s kitchen as a volunteer. Please contact SIM at st-johns@sactoinsight.org for more information.
Buddhist Pathways Prison Project
Buddhist Pathways Prison Project is a non-profit California religious corporation that brings Buddhist services, meditation practice, qigong/ yoga and retreat opportunities into Northern California prisons. Volunteers come from all major Buddhist lineages. SIM is well represented, although we can always use new volunteers. Prisons currently served are Folsom State Prison, California State Prison-Sacramento, Mule Creek State Prison, Deuel Vocational Institute, Sierra Conservation Center and Folsom Womens Facility. If you are interested in volunteering “inside” and have at least one year of meditation practice, please contact Diane Wilde at diane@sactoinsight.org. More information can be found at www.buddhistpathways.org.
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
A long standing organization that supports socially engaged Buddhist practice. For more information, please visit www.bpf.org.
Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program
A yearlong training through the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies. More information can be found at www.sati.org.
Abroad
SIM members are involved in a variety of humanitarian projects located abroad. Currently, SIM volunteers efforts include improving educational and employment opportunities for women and girls in India, and offering free health screenings and care in Cambodia. Donations as well as volunteer participation to support these efforts are joyfully accepted.
Insight World Aid
Cofounded by dharma teacher Gil Fronsdal and members of the Insight Meditation Center, this group is organizing a medical and humanitarian aid mission to Cambodia for 2012 and local projects. For more information, contact jeff@sactoinsight.org or go to the website at insightworldaid.org.
Buddhist Global Relief
Founded by the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi this organization provides food aid to impoverished communities worldwide. More information can be found at www.buddhistglobalrelief.org.
Myanmar Schools Project
Co-founded by dharma teacher Steve Armstrong this group supports the building and improvement of schools in Burma (Myanmar). For more information, please visit myanmarschoolsproject.org.