CHIANG MAI – Phra Prachanatthamunee, the Abbot of Wat Don Chan in Chiang Mai, says the conflict in the Middle East and unstable oil prices are starting to affect daily merrit giving at the temple. As living costs rise and people feel less sure about the economy, fewer visitors are coming to make merit and donate supplies.
That drop is putting pressure on support for almost 1,000 orphaned children and poor students under the temple’s care.
According to the Manager Online, the fighting in the Middle East has created concern over fuel supply and higher oil prices. As a result, many households are dealing with higher expenses, both directly and indirectly.
That strain is also reaching temples that do more than serve as places of worship. Some, including Wat Don Chan in Tha Sala Subdistrict, Mueang District, also act as a refuge for people in need.
Wat Don Chan temple currently cares for 924 children, from young kids to older students, who live, study, and eat there. The temple relies on public support to cover food and other daily costs.
Donations usually come in the form of cash, rice, dry goods, and cooking ingredients. Even when support comes in regularly, the temple still needs steady help because the number of children in its care is so large.
Phra Prachanatthamunee (Anan Ananto), the abbot of Wat Don Chan, said the temple uses a large amount of food every day. Each meal requires three sacks of rice, and the kitchen also needs plenty of meat and vegetables to prepare meals for all the children. Because of that, even a small drop in donations can be felt.
He said the impact has become more noticeable since the unrest in the Middle East began and oil prices started to move sharply. In his view, many people are worried about rising prices and are being more careful with spending, so fewer of them are coming to the temple or bringing supplies as they used to.
Still, the temple is not treating the situation as a crisis. The abbot said Wat Don Chan follows a simple approach to daily life, living according to what is available and using only what is needed.
If there is less, the temple adjusts and uses less. If certain foods are available, the children eat what the temple has. For that reason, he said the temple is not overwhelmed by the situation, even though the pressure is real.
As for rice reserves, the temple currently has about 300 sacks in storage. He said that amount may sound like a lot, but it is not when the temple uses around 12 sacks per day to feed the children.
If no new donations come in, the current stock will last for about one month. After that, the temple would have to look at other ways to manage the shortage. Even so, he believes the situation should improve soon.
People who want to support the temple can still make donations as usual and according to their means, as long as it does not create hardship for their own families.
Members of the public who came to donate consumer goods and basic supplies said they also feel uneasy about the conflict in the Middle East and the instability in oil prices.
They are concerned that the economy may weaken and household costs may continue to rise. Even so, some said they still choose to donate to Wat Don Chan when they can, because they want to help without putting too much strain on themselves.
They also encouraged others who have the ability to contribute to join in supporting the temple. For the children living there, the temple remains their main source of care and support.
