To support VT SEVA Cary’s core mission of supporting the education of visually challenged children, our volunteers hosted and participated in a Walkathon fundraiser. During this fundraising event, both youth and adult volunteers provided exceptional support to the runners, and spread awareness of VT SEVA’s mission. Our 22 youth volunteers specifically spread awareness and information about the Walkathon to garner support for its cause, while other youth volunteers volunteered at the event as checkpoint volunteers, and water/gatorade station volunteers. Our 20 adult volunteers provided equal support with their help with the set up/clean up, and guiding the runners along with the youth. All together, our volunteers contributed greatly to the success of this event, and did an amazing job in their roles!

Taking care of our beautiful planet is something that must be at the forefront of all of our minds today as we begin to acknowledge the impacts humans have had on the Earth in the past centuries. To educate and inspire others to respect and take care of our Earth, our VT SEVA Cary volunteers have created multiple infographic presentations to spread awareness of potential issues surrounding our environment and to ways to protect Earth. Through each infographic, each volunteer was able to spread the ideology that Earth day is not just an annual event, but rather it must be every day. We had 34 youth volunteers participate in this event! They did an amazing job with their colorful, creative, and informational presentations that are definitely worth a read!

Durham Rescue Mission volunteering has been one of our core volunteering events over the past couple years and we have consistently been requested to come back and help. This time was like none other, and volunteers were asked to help serve meals to the men at the Men’s Campus. Durham Rescue Mission is NC’s oldest and largest non-profit homeless shelter. Volunteers were able to help with one of their core aspects of service which is serving meals for the homeless who take shelter at the Rescue Mission. We were able to commit to a great cause and help the homeless community right here in our own towns through this volunteering event at Durham Rescue Mission - Men’s Campus.

Invited by the Durham Food Bank once again, we were asked to help assist inside the warehouse. There were many tasks that the Food Bank wanted us to help out with and volunteers were able to meet all the needs and help out with their community. Working hard, volunteers were able to complete duties such as sorting out produce and placing them in family size bags, sorting out donations from retail stores such as Food Lion and Harris Teeter, cleaning and bagging Capri Sun, sorting and inspecting food drive donations from individuals and corporate donations, and bagging cereal, rice, or pasta into family size bags. Volunteers did an amazing job helping out at the Food Bank again, helping out throughout the warehouse and creating a happy community of those in need.

An annual event, we have come back to volunteer at the FS Series Marathon. We have taken part in this event multiple years in the past, always asked to come back and help them out more and more. This is due to the tremendous jobs our volunteers are able to do as part of the event time after time. This year at the 2024 Tobacco Road Marathon volunteers supported the water aid station. They were set up handing out closed bottles to the runners as well as pumping up their spirits and cheering them on. Our volunteers were able to be organized while also creating an efficient water hand-off station which ensured that the event was well-organized and a positive experience for runners.

The DAV stands for Disabled America Veterans. As a symbol of remembrance and to commemorate the lives of soldiers, servicemen, and women that were lost fighting, little blue Forget-Me-Nots have been created since World War I. The DAV collects these flowers and are distributed to veterans to show our support for them. Annually, 500,000 flowers are created in support for this cause. Joining in, VT Seva Cary has decided to volunteer to create 5,000 Forget-Me-Nots for the DAV. Volunteers gathered at one location to help create these flowers. They were tasked with attaching flowers to a stick as well as adding a paper indicating what the meaning of the flowers were. After being collected we were able to create a gracious amount of Forget-Me Nots for the event. Volunteers did a great job staying on task, finishing the flowers efficiently, while helping make a big difference in the veterans’ lives.

Supporting the Town of Morrisville, our volunteers took part in the drain marking event. This event tasked the volunteers with monitoring oncoming traffic, while installing drain markers and marking those areas on a map of Morrisville that was given. This was done in an effort to keep the stormwater of Morrisville clean and assist the town with other aspects of drainage, water runoff, etc. We have done this event a couple years in the past, and this year, thanks to the wonderful jobs by our volunteers, we were asked to come back and help once again. This event was done on two other shifts at different locations that were held on two other days. (3/17/2024 and 3/24/2024).

This volunteering event was done through the Sri Venkateswara Temple of NC. As the Temple is expanding and changing, we were requested to help out with the gardening aspects of the temple. Our volunteers put in the physical effort to help the temple with landscaping, mulching, and gardening around the temple. They were also needed to help carry and lift supplies and other materials. Connecting with the nature around them and helping our Earth, as well as our well respected friends at the SV Temple, we were able to help create a beautiful environment that was much appreciated.

As part of the WAKE Up and Read Volunteering activity, VT Seva Cary volunteers were part of a community initiative in 2024 to improve school readiness, expand learning opportunities, and also engage families in the learning process. It is ultimately a way for volunteers to commit to a charitable cause that helps the underprivileged by building home libraries for them in Wake County. Volunteers were able to take part in one of the biggest book drives on March 2nd. This activity asked volunteers to help sort, count, and bundle books that would then be shared with the community. They were also tasked with receiving books, and sorting/compiling literacy materials. This event allowed our volunteers to become closer within our Wake County community and help support the underprivileged.

Just like our volunteering opportunity for Raleigh Meals on Wheels, we decided to warm the hearts of even more senior citizens. This time at another Meals on Wheels location in Durham.The cards filled with heart-filling words and pictures, and the bracelets created with affection, we made it our goal to make even more happy hearts during this Valentine’s Day season. The cards and bracelets, dropped off at a location once again, were taken down to Durham Meals on Wheels this time. Through this event we were able to create a memorable Valentine’s Day experience for the senior citizens at Durham Meals on Wheels. Our volunteers’ artistic skills, designing beautiful cards with uplifting messages have warmed the hearts of our seniors. The handcraft bracelets that were created allow seniors to wear them as a reminder of the caring community that surrounds them. This initiative has created lasting memories and has brought joy to the lives of our cherished seniors. Together, we have made this Valentine's Day one for them to remember.

This season of love, VT Seva has decided to help out in our local community and create cards or bracelets to make for the senior citizens at Raleigh Meals on Wheels. Volunteers created cards filled with a thoughtful and loving message that warmed senior citizens’ hearts Additionally, volunteers had the opportunity/choice to create some bracelets for the seniors. Volunteers created beaded bracelets that the senior citizens were able to wear. This event not only engaged our volunteers in a heartfelt activity, but was also able to fill the hearts of all the senior citizens at Raleigh Meals on Wheels. The creativity and compassion shown by the creation of these items have brightened the day of seniors who may feel isolated or lonely. The heartfelt messages and handmade crafts have reminded seniors that they are cherished and remembered.

Starting the new year off strong with our first external volunteering event, we headed back to the Durham Rescue Mission Men’s Center to help make a difference in our community. Just like the many previous trips we have made to the Durham Rescue Mission’s Men’s Center, this one went extraordinarily. On January 27, 2024, our volunteers worked hard, serving lunches for the homeless throughout Durham and Wake County. Their hard-working efforts led to many individuals in need being fed and provided for. Volunteers also took part in crucial activities that helped the Center function smoothly. They were responsible for organizing, cleaning up, washing, drying, etc.

Striving to make the lives of our community better, we have taken up on an opportunity to show our love towards bone marrow patients. Trying to liven up bone marrow patients’ lives and have them feel a sense of joy, our volunteers have come together to create bracelets, bookmarks, and joke cards. These hand-made gifts by our volunteers have made the day for many patients. These gifts represent a sense of hope and lets patients know that the whole community is with them.

The Goda Ranganatha Kalyanam celebrates the marriage (kalyanam) between Goda Devi and Lord Sri MahaVishnu. JET Cary annually hosts this event for the community to come together to celebrate the occasion, and this year it was hosted at the Hindu Society of North Carolina. VT Seva Cary had 35 youth volunteers and 20 adult volunteers helping out at the event. Youth volunteers helped out at the registration desk, volunteer check-in, prasadam check-in, crowd greeting, crowd management, prasadam packing, and prasadam distribution. Adult volunteers helped with stage decoration and hall set up, prasadam packing, clean up, transportation, photography/videography, audio/video set up, parking, and volunteering in general. One of our biggest events of the year, volunteers stayed focused and were attentive throughout, making sure the event ran smoothly. With the help of all of our volunteers, the Goda Ranganatha Kalyanam was a huge success.

On the occasion of Thanksgiving, VT-SEVA Cary volunteers participated in the packing the lunch bags at Brown Bag Ministry. 14 volunteers have taken part in this activity. All the packed lunch bags have distributed to home less people across the wake county in Raleigh.