Sewa Diwali 2020

On 11th Dec 2020, few volunteers from local chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) donated about 2500 lbs of food at 'South Worcester Neighborhood Center' (SWNIC) as part of the Nationwide #SewaDiwali initiative (sewadiwali.org). The SewaDiwali project is a collection of organizations and individuals that are led by HSS and are rooted in Sewa Dharma - “Service to Humanity is Service to Divinity”. SewaDiwali project donated nationwide about 300,000+ lbs of food this year to more than 400 food collection centers across 26 states with participation from 180 organizations and over 1500 volunteers.

Notable ‘group’ donations in the local chapter that might serve as an inspiration to many, have come from (a) Dr Lakshmi Thalanki and staff of 'Family Orthodontics of Hudson' who have contributed more than 850lbs of the total (b) Batch of ‘95 from Hostel-4 ‘IIT Bombay’ who donated 550lbs.

Diwali is a Hindu Festival of Lights which is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists (Dharmic culture) and the festive spirit expressed by those of “any, all and no faith.” Diwali symbolizes the "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance." Especially in these challenging COVID times, hunger can be seen as one ‘evil’ that’s engulfing the country that needs to be collectively addressed.

This event was graced by the presence of Mr Michael Moore, State Senator for Second Worcester District and local community leader Mr. Jonjy Ananth, statewide commissioner of the Asian American Commission. Mr. Rajoo Ananth, Mr Srikanth Rudra, Mr Mohan Gundu, Dr Suresh Mamidala, Mr Mohan Sonti, Dr Lakshmi Thalanki, Mr Bharat Thabati along with eighth grade teenage student volunteers Kruthi Gundu and Anika Mamidala from HSS attended the event.

Mr Michael Moore appreciated the community getting together to help each other during these challenging times. He was highly appreciative of both the HSS Volunteers as well as the volunteer team at SWNIC for their great work in these testing times. He was particularly happy and engaged the student volunteers Kruthi Gundu and Anika Mamidala for being part of this noble volunteering at such a young age and encouraged them to continue community service. 

Director of SWNIC, Tom L'Ecuyer thanked the entire HSS team for the generous donation as well as thanked his volunteering team at the center who are working tirelessly to feed the hungry.

Mr Jonjy Ananth has been supportive of #SewaDiwali initiative and helped organize this event. He has been inspiring the local asian youth to volunteer for community service by being a role model.

HSS, the nation’s largest Hindu-American organization, conducts a values education program for Hindu-Americans of all ages through its 225 branches nationwide. It spreads the Dharmic Principles such as 'Vasudaiva Kutumbakam' meaning 'The Whole World is One Family'. It conducts weekly programs for families emphasizing the physical, intellectual and spiritual growth of each individual to selflessly serve the local communities. HSS has been participating in several COVID relief efforts such as making masks, providing elderly services and food donations. For more information, visit www.hssus.org.

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