Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh(HSS) steps up to donate 5,000+ masks in SF Bay Area and raised $15,000
Central Pecific Sambhag HSS volunteers have donated more than 5,000 masks in the last month to numerous local establishments like hospitals, senior centers, grocery stores, and city officials across east bay and south bay.
More than 70 volunteers of HSS – men, women and children alike – have put in close to 12,000 hours of hard work in making masks from scratch for the community. The process involved procuring materials, sanitizing, cutting, sewing, reviewing and distribution.
The beneficiaries include The Indian Consulate, Santa Clara Education Office, USPS Santa Clara Office, Wells Fargo Bank, Sunnyvale Center Winter Homeless Shelter, Sunol Creek Memory Care center, Casa Natal Birthing Center, Indian Cash and Carry, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, San Ramon police, Bethany Homes Assisted Living and the Cities of Contra Costa, Sunnyvale and Cupertino among others.
“Words cannot express the gratitude felt for the 100 masks you donated to us. Thank you from everyone at Bethany Home. Your kindness shown to us will forever be in our hearts”, said Ava Clarke, Administrator at Bethany Homes for Senior Residential Care. Apart from donating the masks, HSS volunteers have also been working to address the emotional and psychological needs of the senior members of our community, who also happen to be highly vulnerable to COVID 19. HSS volunteers have initiated a program specifically for senior members involving activities like chair yoga, meditation and chanting among others. This program also facilitates conversations and performances by children for the seniors. Younger volunteers of HSS have started a project named ‘Pen Pal’, through which they write or interact with senior citizens of various Senior Centers, forming an emotional bond.
In addition, HSS volunteers have been actively involved in food distribution and collection drives for the needy and vulnerable. HSS volunteers are working with Second Harvest Food Bank Center to distribute food boxes to around 180 families, as directed by the Center, with zero exposure. HSS has successfully raised $15,000 to help Alameda County Food Bank, Second Harvest Food bank and Sewa International projects.
