Performing Selfless service or Sewa is considered an essential devotional practice of indirectly serving God and living a religious life that is a benefit to others. The Bhagavad Gita also teaches these values by saying "Living creatures are nourished by food, and food is nourished by rain; rain itself is the water of life, which comes from selfless worship and service."
The 2018’s campfires caused heavy loss of life and destruction of 95% of structures around Paradise (CA). The surviving families are still suffering from the aftermath. The current COVID-19 situation has worsened their situation as many people have lost their jobs and businesses.
Children often carry additional worry of not being able to afford the supplies they need during the school year.
To address this local issue, HSS’s Contra Costa Vibhag conducted ‘Back to School’ Supplies Sewa Drive for Campfire survivors at Oroville, CA on Saturday Aug 29th. All 5 Balagokulam shakas from Contra Costa Vibhag (Central Pacific Sambhag) participated in this drive by generously donating school supplies and cash contributions to purchase school supplies in bulk.
We were able to arrange supplies for 150 children from kindergarten to 12th grade. Each child was given a new backpack full of supplies and a ‘handmade welcome back to school’ greeting card by our own HSS Balas. Kits were prepared by HSS shaka children from the bulk purchases made by our volunteers.
Each kit contained a notebook, folders, markers, color pencils, regular pencils, crayons, erasers, sharpener, ruler, glue, glue sticks, scissors and expo markers. Sewa event was hosted by Sewa international and Tiny Pine Foundation.
We strongly believe in “Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.”
These donations have uplifted people’s spirit and put a smile on their faces. We are looking forward to continuing Sewa for communities in need.