PAST EVENT

VT Seva Detroit Youth Board Operation Gratitude Project Project Lead: Harish Jaisankar VTS Detroit Youth Board Member VT Seva Detroit Youth Board members, Troy IAE School Club members, Troy High School Club members wrote thank you letters to express their gratitude and appreciation to the soldiers who are deployed overseas.

PAST EVENT

With Swamiji blessings, SUBHA 2nd annual event was a success in terms of maximum youth participation, richness in the cultural program, funds raised for the Nethra Jewels, and promoting diversity and inclusion. We are able to accomplish our goal of raising funds for approximately 125 Nethra kids with your immense Grace and generous support of our donors. The SUBHA annual event was organized on Dec 3rd, 2022, in which Atlanta youths presented a cultural program consisting of melodious songs, magnificent dances, and meaningful messages. Our Chief Guests were Sargent Seamore from Johns Creek Police Department, Dana Reynolds and Donaldson from Laurel Heights Hospital Business Development Team, and Dr. Praveen Gudipati from Cumming Dental. The program commenced by lighting an auspicious lamp and prayer recitation. Next, were the American and Indian National Anthems by our youths. Subsequently, was a welcome speech by Madhu Nemani. Thereafter, was a stellar presentation ‘Alone we can’t Together we CAN’ by Hithesh Gazzalaji and Anuradha Gazzalaji in which they presented the highlights of Atlanta’s year-round volunteer works. Next, was an Indian Kucchipudi dance by Prajna children which was followed by ‘Unity in Diversity’ our star performance in which 5 VT Seva Youth Club members participated - Lambert high school, Denmark high school, Northview high school, Alliance academy, and Alpharetta high school. They exhibited the real unity in diversity by portraying a beautiful action song on ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’. Thereafter Atlanta youths presented Bollywood dances, Indian classical songs, and Instrumental music performances which created an aura of celebration and commemoration for all. Afterwards, our Chief guests rendered their inspirational speeches in which they highly praised the exemplary volunteer works that our VT Seva youths have done this year, their selfless service, its positive impact on the Atlanta community, donations raised, and stellar cultural program. Later, momentous were given to the Chief guests, sponsors, VT Seva children, and volunteers. In the end, VT Seva Director appreciated the hard work, dedication, and selfless service of the entire Atlanta team. She also sincerely thanked all the donors for their generous contributions for the noble cause. Overall, Subha 2022 was a very rewarding and gratifying experience for us. The delightful dances, the meaningful messages, and the soulful songs together created a memorable and treasured afternoon for all.

PAST EVENT

As a part of Environmental Sustainability effort and Climate Change Action , Volunteers took part in the Green Initiative by taking shorter showers, conserving energy, etc. one volunteer wrote “During the green initiative activity, I take measures to reduce my carbon footprint and save as much of our resources as possible. Some ways I do this is by using natural light instead of turning on the lights in my room when daylight is still there, using the bus to go to and from school everyday rather than using personal transportation, and buying locally sourced food from stores such as Lucky's and Safeway rather than other food. Although these measures taken are small, they eventually add up in the long-term and end up reducing the amount of waste I produce in regards to the resources I have access to. I find these actions really important for our environment and our future so I do them gladly.”

PAST EVENT

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), organic waste makes up more than 28% of landfills. Unfortunately, landfills lack the necessary conditions for ample decomposition. Rather than adding to landfills, composting is a much better solution. By composting we are able to reduce the amount of waste that ends up at landfills, and instead, we let the nutrients return back to Earth so it can be recycled naturally. This event focuses on having volunteers make compost in their own gardens. Volunteers will take pictures each weekend on how the compost is coming along.

PAST EVENT

VT Seva Denmark Youth Club made special ‘Thank You’ cards for the Thomas Eye group staff members from November 20 - 28, 2022. They delivered these cards on November 28th. All Doctors and staff members were incredibly happy and grateful to see loving-caring cards by our VT youths. Our youths have created an everlasting impression on them and they took VT Seva website address to see how they can support this volunteer organization in future.

PAST EVENT

VT Seva youth volunteers participate in “Letters to sign” every month. Volunteers sign up every month to write up to 4 letters and mail them to the specified address which then reach the seniors. Volunteers write a letter or make cards following guidelines provided on their website.VT Seva has been participating in this activity since 2021 and seeing increased participation from youth volunteers every month. This activity is about providing support and making elders happy by writing letters to them. In this activity, volunteers take a few minutes, sit down and write a letter. They tell them a joke, share a riddle, share how their day went and let them know they are loved. It brings a connection to the person where the letter gets mailed and makes someone feel good when they receive it.

PAST EVENT

RAFT’s mission is to help educators transform a child’s learning experience through hands-on education to one that inspires the joy and discovery of learning. Its vision is to inspire the next generation of innovators, by providing educators with stem based resources. Volunteers will help sort and package materials for use by teachers for hands-on teaching purposes. By volunteering with RAFT, organization skills, communication skills, and social skills are gained.

PAST EVENT

VTSEVA Youth volunteers cleaned local streets and parks of trash or litter, working to keep our cities clean! Before Covid, volunteers used to go together and adopt a street. Now guidelines have changed to minimize the spread of COVID-19. It is now an individual activity. Each member provides a date and time they plan to do the activity. Then after they finish their trash picking they collect the following information. Time, date, location of the activity, how much distance they covered and names of the streets/how much trash was collected

PAST EVENT

Partnering with Sewa International and local HSS, VTSEVA youth collected and donated 512lbs of food to Issaquah Food bank to support local homeless shelters! Volunteers collected these donations by going door to door within communities and also collected food donations during our Acharya Thirunakshatram celebrations. Thank you again for all the volunteers who helped with this food drive!

PAST EVENT

VT Seva Detroit successfully celebrated the 7th Annual Cultural Event RAAS-2022 on November 19th, 2022, culminating another great year of various fundraising activities and volunteering service to the community. VT Seva Detroit acknowledged the year-long hard work of our dedicated volunteers and generous donors with an evening of music, dance, skits, food, fun, and celebration. Some of the key highlights of the event: • VT Seva Detroit Director thanked the Donors and Volunteers for their impact in supporting Visually challenged & Underprivileged students’ education. • VT Seva Detroit Board members shared updates from various Youth board and Community Service Projects. • Over 450+ people attended. • Goose Bump Performances by 8 Dance teams • Melodious Singing & Rocking Live Band Performance Till to-date for this year, VT Seva Detroit Raised funds for over 234 students’ education

PAST EVENT

VT Seva Detroit Youth Board volunteers took the time sensitive task and invited almost 400 people over the phone call to our 7th annual event RAAS.

PAST EVENT

VT Seva Atlanta adopted another street - Brannon Rd in Cumming, GA on November 13, 2022. More than 30 youths & adults are participated in the street cleanup activity. It was 32 degrees in Atlanta. Rain n shine, VT volunteers are always delivering quality service!

PAST EVENT

VT Seva Atlanta youths collected 200 lbs of candy for the US troops on the borders to spread the joy and holiday cheers with them. One kind hearted dentist of Atlanta provided special goody bags to all the Atlanta VT Seva youths for their contribution. Each goody bag has a tooth brush, paste, smart rinse, and other Halloween giveaways. He is so impressed by our youth activities that he has donated 1500 for Subha annual event. 🍭Trick or treat, bags of SWEETS 🍭 VT children walking down the streets!

PAST EVENT

Project Lead: Harish Jaisankar VT Seva is participating in a Candy Drive nationwide. In Detroit, we collected 31 pounds of candies and donated to Operation Gratitude, a non-profit organization.

PAST EVENT

VT Seva Atlanta youths had donated 500 cotton cloth masks to the Special Needs kids of the Laurel Heights Hospital on October 30, 2022. These masks are stitched by our VT Seva Atlanta youths. The Laurel Heights staff highly appreciates our youths year round contribution and loving-caring attitude for the jewels of hospital. We have donated 6,500 masks till now in year 2022. It really helped them in minimizing flu break and Covid prevention at the hospital.