Message from the National Spiritual Assembly regarding the Humanitarian Relief Fund
11 May 2022 / 14 Beauty 179
All Local Spiritual Assemblies
All Regional Bahá’í Councils
All Registered Groups
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly has received a number of moving letters from believers and institutions in Canada who wish to extend assistance of various kinds to the Bahá’í community in Ukraine. In turn, we inquired of the Universal House of Justice and have received the following helpful guidance about the Humanitarian Relief Fund and instructions on how to contribute to it.
As you know, some years ago, the House of Justice established the Disaster Relief Fund, now known as the Humanitarian Relief Fund, for the purpose of providing humanitarian relief to affected communities. The institutions of the Faith and the believers in all parts of the world may direct their contributions to this fund at any time and, if they wish, earmark them accordingly if they are intended for a specific country. Contributions may be sent through a National Assembly or directly to the Bahá’í World Centre; enclosed are instructions for sending cheques and wire transfers to the World Centre. Alternatively, they can make a general contribution to the Bahá’í International Fund through the local or national funds.
In response, the National Assembly has established a contribution goal of $100,000 for the Humanitarian Relief Fund for the coming year, and it is now among the funds listed on the online contribution system. Contributions may also be made by cheque, made out to “Canadian Bahá’í Fund”, earmarked “Humanitarian Relief Fund”, and mailed to the Bahá’í National Centre, 7200 Leslie Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 6L8. A charitable donation tax receipt will be issued for such contributions. Contributing in this way means that these donations cannot be for a specific country but are, rather, discretionary. If the friends prefer to send directly to the Bahá’í World Centre, which does allow them to specify “Ukraine” or another country, the instructions for sending cheques and electronic transfers to the Bahá’í World Centre are attached. As you know, such contributions sent directly are not eligible for an income tax receipt.
Dear friends, we call to mind the stirring references to world conditions in this year’s Ridván message. In the words of the Universal House of Justice: “We know well and are reassured that, as Bahá’í communities have repeatedly demonstrated in many different contexts, the followers of Bahá’u’lláh are committed to offering relief and support to those around them, no matter how straitened their own circumstances … We cannot but expect that, for now, convulsions and disturbances will continue to afflict the world; you will no doubt appreciate, then, why every earnest supplication we offer for all God’s children to be relieved from bewilderment and bitter hardship is coupled with an equally heartfelt prayer for the success of the much-needed service you are rendering for the Cause of the Prince of Peace.”
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Karen McKye, Secretary
