Mother’s Kitchen, a division of Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma)’s humanitarian outreach, serves upwards of 72,000 meals each year throughout the country. During Devi Bhava (Amma’s completion of her ceremonial public programs ), I had the unique opportunity to sit (pray and celebrate) with Chetana Williamson, Mother’s Kitchen Los Angeles Primary Co-Coordinator. Chetana’s humility was only outshone by her radiant enthusiasm and pure devotion.
“Love and Serve” exclaims Williamson “Just Love and Serve… We’re just an extension of Mother and we want to give to the community, and one of the ways in which we do that is by providing meal service.”
The Mother’s Kitchen Meal Service Seva consists of a two local partnerships; The Santa Monica-based initiative “HOPE” (Helping Other People Eat) and the Downtown Women’s Center Meal Service. HOPE provides meals twice weekly to 150-300 Westsiders, while the Downtown Women’s Center once-monthly endeavor caterers to approximately seventy women in need.
The dedicated volunteers of Mother’s Kitchen loving prepare these fresh vegetarian meals at home and in industrial kitchens. Food is prepped, cooked, transported, given finishing prana-filled touches, served and cleaned up after. The goal, says Williamson, is “To keep the body temples in good working order….We really have the best intentions of giving back what has been given to us and you know, love and serve. It’s a good formula it really works.”
To give back in the Los Angeles Area please contact Chetana@ammateam.org or Jill@ammateam.org
Donations always aaccepted. These include:
- Healthy Food (Perishable and Non-Perishable Items)
- Financial Contributions
- Unused Cookware
For more information visit: amma.org/humanitarian-activities/social/mothers-kitchen
*Special Thanks to San Diego Satsang Member Rajesh Grover for his seva.
On Monday, June 14, at Amma’s public program in LA, a group of women from the Downtown Women’s Center visited Amma for their first experience of darshan (pictured, above). Tears flowed after the group shared a meal with the devotees and then received hugs. The greatest moments of poignancy were communicated as they relayed their gratitude for the embrace filled with unconditional love.
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