Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, HSS volunteers from the Georgio branch including its youth chapter stepped up to the challenge of helping their community..They collaborated with and brought together several other organizations to amplify their efforts.As a token of appreciation and expression of gratitude,HSS and Sewa International volunteers provided more than 6,000 PPE including 3 ply surgical masks, KN 95, N95 and cotton masks to the first responders to four Georgia cities, Cobb County Police and Fire Department, Alpharetta Police and Fire department, Dunwoody Police department and Johnscreek Police and Fire department and to Fulton County Jail.
Additonally, HSS karyakartas and Sewa International karyakartas provided a total of 2,500 PPEs including 3 ply surgical masks, KN 95, N 95 and cotton masks to 5 Senior Care centers and 2 hospitals in 7 cities. Viz, Marietta, where more than 75% of their residents had tested positive for Covid-19, Powder Springs, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Atlanta, Smyrna and Cummings. ShivShakti shakha kishores and balas created and distributed "Thank you" cards to frontline workers of Northside hospital for their dedication and hard efforts.
Many volunteers in metro Atlanta prepared hot meals and collaborated with Food4life to provide hot meals to homeless in downtown Atlanta. Many middle schoolers and high schoolers participated in food sorting and packing. In Jai Hanuman shakha, Savannah, families provided hot meals to homeless and needy people in downtown Savannah. This Sewa activity is still being continued by dedicated karyakartas.
HSS and Sewa karyakartas also thanked the frontline workers of Northside Hospital by delivering lunch.
The youth of Hindu Yuva chapter, GA vibhag, contributed in covid helpline and also helped their fellow students, especially, students from out of state to vacate their dorms and provide the necessary help. Families from 8 shakhas were involved in fundraising for food pantries like Must Ministries – Marietta, Atlanta food bank and Envision Atlanta in Clarkston. HSS and Sewa Internatiional karyakartas were involved in grocery and Sanitation kit distribution to more than 350 families in Clarkston area, one of the hard hit cities in Georgia. Jai Ganesh karyakartas along with Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA0 have so far donated more than 1600 lbs of food to Must Ministries and are still continuing this effort. We are humbled and grateful that we could help our neighborhoods and needy people in the community in these unprecedented times.