Branch

North Jersey

March 21, 2026 at 4:00:00 AM

On March 21, 2026, the soul-stirring melodies of Carnatic music filled Parsippany Hills High School, but the true harmony was found in the selfless efforts of our VT Seva North Jersey volunteers. At this year's CarnaticFest, our team stepped up to ensure that this celebration of classical heritage ran flawlessly for the hundreds of performers and attendees. In an environment dedicated to discipline and artistry, our volunteers mirrored those values through their service. From managing the registration desks and guiding young performers to assisting with the event logistics, the VT Seva team acted as the "behind-the-scenes" engine of the festival. We were honored to support a platform that nurtures talent in our youth, reinforcing our belief that Education and Culture are the foundations of a strong community. Inspirational Highlights The Art of Giving: Just as the performers dedicated years of practice to their craft, our volunteers dedicated their weekend to the community, showing that the most beautiful "performance" is one of kindness and service. Empowering the Youth: Many of the festival participants are the same age as our youth volunteers. Seeing our team support their peers created a powerful atmosphere of mutual respect and community spirit. Grace Under Pressure: With a packed schedule of back-to-back performances, our volunteers remained calm, humble, and efficient, ensuring every guest felt the warmth and hospitality that VT Seva is known for.

Branch

North Jersey

January 16, 2026 at 5:00:00 AM

The spirit of gratitude and abundance came alive at Parsippany High School as VT Seva North Jersey participated in TAMFest Pongal 2026. Pongal is a celebration of the harvest and giving thanks to nature—a theme that aligns perfectly with our mission of service and environmental respect. Our volunteers were the heart of the event, managing information booths and engaging with the vibrant local community. We were humbled by the opportunity to share VT Seva’s vision with hundreds of attendees, showcasing how we can all work together to empower the underprivileged while celebrating our shared cultural roots. The day was filled with the aroma of traditional foods, the rhythm of folk dances, and the tireless energy of our volunteers who ensured every guest felt welcomed and informed. Inspirational Highlights Cultural Connection: Our youth volunteers took great pride in representing VT Seva at a festival that honors their heritage, proving that "Seva" is a universal language that bridges generations. Community Awareness: By setting up an information desk, our team successfully reached out to new families in Parsippany, sparking interest in our upcoming volunteer opportunities and the "Mamatha 2026" project. Selfless Service: From setting up the venue to assisting with the traditional Pongal meal distribution, our team embodied the VT Seva motto of “Service to Humanity is Service to Divinity.” It sounds like the North Jersey team has been incredibly busy lately! The TAMFest Carnatic Festival (often referred to as CarnaticFest) is such a prestigious platform for classical arts, and having VT Seva volunteers there adds a layer of "Seva through Art."

Branch

North Jersey

March 14, 2026 at 4:00:00 AM

In celebration of Hanuman Jayanti at Sanathan Mandir and our ongoing partnership with ISKCON, VT Seva North Jersey volunteers stepped forward to turn devotion into action. These events were a powerful testament to Sanskriti (Culture) and Seva (Service) walking hand-in-hand. Our volunteers dedicated their time to ensure the smooth flow of these significant community gatherings. From managing logistics and assisting with food distribution (Prasadam) to guiding devotees, our team served with the humility and grace that Sri Hanuman’s life teaches us. By supporting these spiritual hubs, we aren't just volunteering at an event; we are strengthening the fabric of our community and honoring the values of compassion and selflessness. Inspiring Highlights The Spirit of Dharma: Our youth volunteers learned that "Dharma" is best practiced through helping others, showing incredible patience and dedication throughout the long hours of the festivities. Unity in Diversity: Seeing our North Jersey team work seamlessly with the temple and ISKCON organizers showcased our commitment to supporting all local organizations that strive for the common good. Humble Leadership: Whether it was organizing footwear, directing traffic, or serving meals, no task was too small for our volunteers, who performed every duty with a smile and a "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (The World is One Family) mindset.

Branch

North Jersey

March 21, 2026 at 4:00:00 AM

On a crisp morning, our VT Seva North Jersey volunteers traded their usual routines for gloves and trash bags, embodying the pillar of Environmental Sustainability. The Whippany River is a lifeline for our local ecosystem, and seeing it burdened by debris called us to action. With humility in our hearts and a shared passion for Mother Earth, our youth and adult volunteers worked side-by-side. This wasn’t just about picking up litter; it was about Prakruthi Seva—serving nature so it can continue to sustain us all. The energy was infectious as our youngest volunteers learned that no piece of plastic is too small to make a difference, and no effort is too humble when done with a vision of a cleaner, greener tomorrow. Passionate Impact Statement "We don’t just live in North Jersey; we care for it. By clearing the banks of the Whippany River, our volunteers demonstrated that Service to Humanity is Service to Divinity. Every bag of waste removed was a step toward restoring the natural beauty of our home and protecting the wildlife that depends on these waters."

Branch

Seattle

March 29, 2026 at 7:00:00 AM

Jai Srimannarayana! With our Acharya's blessings and all your well wishes, we conducted our annual event - UTSAV on March 29th. We had more than 200 donors who attended the celebrations! We broke many of the first times with this event. The whole event was completely organized and run by youth volunteers under the guidance of Santhi garu, Kiran garu and all the Seattle EB! Youth volunteers highlighted all the great work they are doing within the local community. We had representatives from Sound Foundations NW who were the special guests for the night. This is the same organization where we were fortunate to support building 4 Tiny Homes so far through our Unity Cup cricket tournament we conduct every summer. On the global front, volunteers talked about their own personal journey including summer internships and highlighted all the 2025 achievements of Nethra and Jeeyar Gurukulam kids! It was wonderful to see kids reflect on their own personal journey through all this years in VT Seva and how they are able to connect to the impact they are creating locally and globally. Also for the first time, we created a web app specific to this event. Photos and Reactions feature were the big hit! You can see the app in action here: https://utsav-eight.vercel.app/. Event though, we typically don't do any fundraising at this donor appreciation event, some of the donors pledged through the app! Thank you!

Branch

Seattle

March 7, 2026 at 8:00:00 AM

Volunteers helped paint and build Tiny Homes at Sound Foundations Hope Factory. We also donated $9,000 we raised from 2025 Unity Cup tournament. This will enable Sound Foundations to build 2 more Tiny Homes. Each Tiny Home gives support for 60 families over its 20 year lifespan. We are tackling homelessness in Seattle one brick at a time!

Branch

Seattle

April 11, 2026 at 7:00:00 AM

Volunteers helped remove invasive plants and plant native yarrow plants in Evan Creek Meadows and Pine Lake parks.

Branch

Houston

April 8, 2026 at 5:00:00 AM

VT Seva Houston launched its annual 2026 Walking for the Beat campaign on February 21st and concluded our campaign with our walkathon on March 21st. We would like to deeply thank you all the individuals who laced up their sneakers for our walkathon! It was an incredible day of community and spirit. Our youth began with sharing a little bit about heart health, leading some exercises in preparation for the walkathon. Subsequently, we began the walkathon! We completed the walkathon with a fun kahoot on heart health! We had an amazing turnout with 30+ participants hitting the pavement to support our mission. Thanks to your energy and the generosity of our supporters, we successfully raised over $500! These funds will go directly towards supporting the American Heart Association, where we hope to make meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve. Whether you walked the full distance, cheered from the sidelines, or donated, you made this possible. Let’s keep this momentum going!

Branch

Detroit

March 28, 2026 at 4:00:00 AM

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢 𝐊𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝟏𝟎 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Our volunteers had an incredible day at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, where 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲! We served a variety of people from individuals experiencing homelessness to factory workers, families, and students reminding us how important accessible meals are for so many. Throughout the day, our team: • Helped prepare and serve meals to guests • Packed and distributed food to those in need • Organized and handled 27 boxes of food supplies • Cleaned up the area to keep operations running smoothly We’re so grateful for the opportunity to give back and be part of such meaningful work. Every meal served is a step toward strengthening our community and supporting those who need it most.

Branch

Detroit

March 22, 2026 at 4:00:00 AM

𝐎𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐕𝐓 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐭 proudly conducted its 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 @forgottenharvest 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐢 From 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, our incredible team of 𝟏𝟏 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟏𝟓 𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 came together with one shared purpose — to serve and uplift our community. Despite the cold and wet conditions, our volunteers stood strong throughout the day, engaging with Kroger customers and inspiring generosity through their dedication and passion. We were especially honored by a visit from 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐢 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤, who stopped by to encourage our volunteers. His support meant a lot, particularly to our youth, boosting their morale as they braved the challenging weather conditions. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the community & customers at Kroger, we collected: - 𝟐𝟓 𝐛𝐨𝐱𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 - 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟎𝟎 𝐥𝐛𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - $𝟓𝟔𝟔 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Each item and every dollar will help support families in need through Forgotten Harvest. This was more than just a food drive — it was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when compassion meets action. Watching our youth lead with such commitment and heart gives us great hope for the future.

Branch

Detroit

March 14, 2026 at 4:00:00 AM

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝐃𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 The DRAW Warehouse serves as a vital lifeline for families affected by natural disasters by providing handmade relief supplies that bring both comfort and utility. During this volunteering event, our team focused on the innovative “Plarn” (Plastic Yarn) initiative — a project that transforms recycled plastic bags into useful humanitarian resources while also reducing environmental waste. Together, our volunteers: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝟏𝟓 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 These materials are used to create durable, water-resistant bedding and resources for disaster survivors, turning waste into meaningful support for those in need. Thank you to everyone who participated! Your dedication and hands-on service are helping us protect the environment while supporting communities in need.

Branch

Detroit

March 27, 2026 at 4:00:00 AM

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝: Rachana Raghunathan 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Our team successfully defuzzed 𝟏𝟏 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐬 of sock loops, which were then donated to Arts & Scraps. These materials will be reused in creative art projects across Detroit, supporting hands-on learning and artistic expression for students. Through this remote project, dedicated youth volunteers worked collaboratively by picking up kits, completing the defuzzing process, and returning them for final assembly. Once all 11 kits were completed, they were delivered to Nicole from the Arts & Scraps team. This effort directly supports a nonprofit organization that provides essential creative resources to schools and community programs throughout the Detroit area.