On the auspicious occasion of Varsha pratipada (Traditional Hindu New Year), HSS sevikas, began with the divine reading of Shri Ram Katha, based on Vandaniya Mousi Ji’s pravachans called Pathadarshini.  It is a 10 day pravachan style discourse, exactly emualting what Vandaniya Mousiji -Lakshmibai Kelkar did in Marathi language 5 decades ago in Wardha, Maharashatra, India. Now, this has expnaded into 9 different languages.

Timings and zoom links are given to enable all to listen at convenient timings. More than 120 sevikas participated in the reading.

The Central Pacific regional chapters of HSS initiated a “Vidyadaan” school supplies donation drive to ease the financial burden of needy students and enable their academic success. Other HSS chapters around the country also chimed in by replicating this Seva (charitable) drive in their regions.

• Children volunteers in Mountain House CA set up a Pani Puri stand with the help of their parents to sell these tasty treats and raise funds for backpack donations. They eventually donated 35 backpacks with supplies to SJQ Child Support. Similarly, the nearby Pleasanton Shakha organized a fundraising drive by selling savory chaat items, lassi, and tea

• HSS San Joaquin chapters in partnership with San Joaquin Kannada Sangha, Poorba – Mountain House Bengali Association, Central Valley Marathi Mandali, and Central Valley Gujarati Association donated around 167 Backpacks filled with school supplies to 4 beneficiary organizations in San Joaquin County. Gauri Shakha also set up a buttermilk stand during cricket matches in parks and playgrounds to raise funds for the Vidyadaan campaign. They donated all of the backpacks to the Jefferson School District

• As part of Vidyadaan, the Tri-Valley area shakhas came up with unique ideas for raising funds to help the local school districts in Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton. The Kishor Shakha organized a Bake Sale, the Bala Gana conducted a Jewelry workshop and set up a Lemonade Stall, and the Family Shakha arranged a Chaat Corner/Lunch Corner and a Walkathon, in which each family pledged an amount of choice for the supplies donation

• In Contra Costa, the volunteers of the Rudra Shakha donated 70 school backpacks filled with essential supplies to the Brentwood Union School District. Similarly, the Ayodhya and Chanakya Shakhas donated 50+ backpacks to Los Cerros middle school in SRVUSD along with additional supplies

• The HSS Columbus team in partnership with Sewa International USA organized its annual school supply drive, in which they donated school supplies to Royal Manor Elementary School in Gahanna OH

• The Subramanya Bharathi Shakha in the Seattle WA area concluded their Vidyadaan drive, donating 22 backpacks, along with supplies like crayons, glue sticks, pocket calculators, and scientific calculators to Lake Washington School District

• As part of their Seva initiative, Madhav Shakha raised funds through pledges and donated 180 backpacks to Alcott Elementary School in Houston TX. The school’s principal appreciated the HSS volunteers, stating “The backpacks with all the supplies get our students ready to learn!”

• The Chicago area chapters of HSS organized a notebook donation drive for School District #33. It was their third successive back-to-school drive for the same school district. The HSS volunteers donated around 1,200 notebooks and some cash donations, beating the school district’s request for 1,000 notebooks. Volunteers of Abhimanyu  Shakha, Vivekananda Shakha, and Panchjanya Shakha participated in the drive. The Balas/ Kishores of Buffalo Grove Shakha raised funds through a lemonade stand and also donated from their piggy banks

ROCKAWAY, NJ, USA, January 17, 2023 /– On January 16th, 2023, ‘Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, USA, (HSS) Youths’ received the ‘2023 Service Above Self MLK Youth Leadership Award’ from Aurora (IL) Mayor Richard Irvin. This award was given to youth groups and youth leaders for their Community Service and efforts in promoting ‘Diversity-Equity-Inclusion’ (DEI). HSS Youth received this award for their food drives, highway cleanup, cultural education and, honoring of school teachers & first responders, and other service activities in 2022.

Since its inception in 1989, HSS has focused on inculcating its members to practice universal values of Hinduism, such as humanity, equality, inclusivity, and serving the needy in the society they belong to. Over the years, HSS, through its local chapters and members, has worked for society by conducting food drives, cleanup projects, health awareness events, tutoring, and helping people during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently with government authorities to conduct successful vaccination drives.

HSS youths that received the award observed that the award was only an acknowledgment of being part of the society and that, just like MLK said, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now,” and that serving society was more fulfilling than the award itself.

HSS volunteers at Roseville & Rocklin, California, celebrated MLK day with the local community and community leaders. They also helped the event organizers in the setup and cleanup. The youth chanted Hindu prayers for “peace for all and unity”, which were appreciated by the participants.

The Lewisville community in North Texas celebrated the 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year the theme was “Living the Dream: It Takes a Team.” Hindu Education Foundation (HEF), a project of HSS, continued the partnership with the MLK committee of North Texas to co-sponsor and co-host the event this year in collaboration with the local school district. The event was attended by elected officials from 3 neighboring towns and the school district superintendent. This civic event is planned as a non-political inter-Faith event to celebrate the ideals of Dr. King, such as eliminating all forms of prejudice, equality of races, equality of gender, sustainable development, and international peace.

HSS Dallas team partnered with African American museum in a Realizing the Dream – Healthy Expo. The HSS volunteers conducted a few sessions of Yoga and SNY, explaining the simple breathing techniques, their benefits, and how they can be practiced. Many people attended and gave very positive feedback.

HSS member and volunteer Mr. J. R. Sandadi was invited by the Indiana Christian Leadership Conference (ICLC) to represent the Hindu community for the 54th MLK Day celebration service at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana. Mr. Sandadi, expressing his gratitude for Martin Luther King Jr., spoke on this occasion and offered a Hindu prayer of peace and unity for all. Sharing his experience, Mr. Sandadi quoted MLK, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” He further said, “MLK’s inspiration is not limited to a day, but is experienced all the time while serving the society.”

On Saturday, June 5, 2021, with the help of 22 volunteers, HSS (Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh) and Sewa International participated in the DuPage County Adopt-A-Highway to make a positive impact in Aurora.

Find more about the news coverage here.

NBC News covered Sewa Diwali efforts by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers, please learn more about it using this link.

Celebration of Diwali by donating food to Vernon Township Food pantry in Illinois, please read more by using this link in Daily Herald newspaper.