VTSEVA Seattle chapter worked with two other local organizations to support local Issaquah Food Bank with canned food drive. We were able to collect and donate ~ 2100lbs of canned food which will go to support local homeless shelters. Local council members were also present to encourage and show their appreciation for the work youth volunteers are doing in the community.

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!

As part of October giving campaign, VTSEVA conducted chess competition in Microsoft. All proceeds from the chess competition were donated to VTSEVA. This is the first time we are conducting as part of giving campaign. There were 16 participants and final winners were decided based on a Swiss based tournament in 5 rounds. It was a great forum to explain what we do as an organization and introduce new members to the cause.

Please welcome Seattle's new youth board for 2022-2023 school year. Every year, we follow a democratic process for the board elections with candidates providing their vision for the board and fielding questions from all of the youth club members and parents. This year was no exception. We had all the propsective board members provide a video response to the prompt: How will they improve diversity and inclusion within the youth club? We played all of the video responses at the election event and had each candidate take questions from the audience. In the end, we are happy to announce the following youth board for the Seattle branch which takes effective immediately. Yashita Tanwar - President Nikhil Chivukula and Ananya Suthram - Co-Vice Presidents Vibha Velturi - Secretary Yashwant Piratla - Head of Relations

DESC is a local organization which helps house homeless in apartments until they are able to be self-sufficient. We have supported DESC through our 5k walkathon in 2021 raising $5k for the cause. In addition to this, our youth recently participated in a gratitude exercise by writing thank you note cards to some of the donors of DESC - around 100 cards. In addition to thank you notes, volunteers made hand-made bracelets to include with the thank you cards to show our gratitude to the donors.

Our VT seva youth performing at memory care center (Personalized and compassionate care provided by highly trained staff for residents living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia). Our volunteers played pieces on piano (both classical and jazz); this helped residents reconnect to their memories and bring joy to them. This is an ongoing event as VTSEVA is invited to perform at this center every other sunday.

Seattle VTSEVA along with Sewa International and HSS conducted the annual 5k walkathon at Marymoor Park. The proceeds from the walk were donated to the local Native American community for women empowerment. As part of the walkathon, elders from Duwamish tribe were the chief guest for the event and they explained how the land is built on a legacy of Native American leaders for the last hundreds of years. They implored all the participants to honor the legacy of the ancestors by preserving the nature around us. Close to 120 participants took part in the 5k walkathon. Participants also celebrated India's 75th Independence Day at the strike of midnight IST.

On july 29th, Seattle VTSEVA youth volunteers celebrated International Friendship Day with local community police in Sammamish City. Youth volunteers made special hand bracelets for this event which they used to tie like a "rakhi" to the members of our city police and the youth got to learn all the ways the city helps to keep our communities safe. Sammamish city police was very grateful for the hand-made bracelets signifying our community friendship and were appreciative of the lunch we provided.

Seattle youth volunteers participated in Seedlings for Education project by raising and selling plants within the community in the months of May and June. Youth members raised Jasmine, Rose, Tomato, Beans, and Chukka koora plants. All these plants were sold at various events such as Annual Prajna Day, Veda temple, and local neighborhood stalls. As part of this effort, team raised $1550 towards education pillar of VTSEVA.

Our youth volunteers, Pranav Sandadi and Anoushka Manica, performed musical pieces for residents at Fieldstone Memory Care Center in Issaquah. The music of Chopin/Mozart on Piana and Carnatic pieces on Veena brough smiles to all the residents there.

As part of our commitment to local communities, VTSEVA Seattle youth participated in an adopt-a-road event in Sammamish. We cleaned the roads and picked up recyclable items and trash as part of this effort.

VTSEVA Seattle youth volunteers participated in community engagement by volunteering at Downtown Emergency Services Center (DESC). Volunteers helped unload and sort through donations for homeless shelters in Seattle downtown. All these items help DESC setup new homes for people in need within our communities.

VT Seattle had a wonderful weekend of events for the Earth Day celebrations: one in East Sammamish park and one in McCollum park. More than 20+ volunteers helped restore native habitat in these two parks.

On Saturday, December 11, VT Seva youth and adult volunteers packaged holiday cards for the homeless as part of the DESC support program. DESC is a Seattle based organization that works to provide housing, emotional and healthcare support to the homeless people in Seattle. As an organization, they not only provide a house for stability but also provide mental health support, substance use support and financial support. To help DESC in their inspiring initiative, VT Seva Seattle volunteers packaged 1000 holiday cards that consisted of handmade cards and a gift card. These holiday cards are very significant for each and every person receiving them as it may be the only gift they receive during the holiday season.

Partnered with Northwest Harvest to do a canned food drive in Seattle area. We raised 630 pounds of canned food as of 11/24. Event will continue till 11/30.