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VTSeva Detroit First Quarter Blog 2026
- VT Seva Detroit Communication
- 12 minutes ago
- 12 min read
The VT Seva Youth Board has had an incredible first quarter filled with exciting activities, heartfelt community service, and lots of smiles. From helping at food pantries to participating in activities that show gratitude, our dedicated youth members have shown remarkable passion and commitment. Along this journey, we've learned valuable lessons and have done our part to spread joy and positivity throughout our community. We’re keeping it going strong as we continue to make a difference and create unforgettable memories! Here is a list of the activities that our fantastic Youth Board has done from January to March:
Youth Board Projects:
VT SEVA YB Plastic Grocery Bag Drive
VT Seva Detroit Youth Board 6th Annual Towel Drive
VTS Youth Board 2026 Coats and Socks Drive
VT Seva Detroit Youth Board CASS Community Service
VTS DET YB 2026 Clothing Drive
Detroit Projects:
Group 1 Arts and Scraps Remote
DAV Project
Destined for greatness MLK Event
Group 2 Arts and Scraps Remote Socks Loops Project
Food Gatherers
Forgotten Harvest
Oakland Food Pantry
Hospitality House
Group 3 Arts and Scraps Remote
DRAW Warehouse
Kroger Solicitation Food Drive
Capuchin Soup Kitchen
VTS Club Events:
Plymouth scholars VTS Club:
DAV Flower Event -1
DAV Flower Event - 2
Troy High VTS Club
DAV Flower Making Event
Clawson Food Pantry
Troy IAE VTS Club
Snowcraft Kit Making
Shamrock Shakedown Card Making
Math Kangaroo
WIHI VTS Club
Book Drive
Cancer Awareness Event
Senior Sendoff Gift Packing
Youth Board Projects:
VT SEVA YB Plastic Grocery Bag Drive(JAN 4- JAN 23)
VT Seva Detroit YouthBoard proudly partnered with Open Door Ministry Canton to support donations of clean, used, plastic grocery bags for their food programs. We have collected over 1,600 grocery bags and the bags have been successfully dropped off at the Canton Ministry.
Project Lead: Sanjay Ramamoorthy
Volunteers:
Sanjay Ramamoorthy, Siddharth Ramamoorthy, Varun Aerabati,Sarayu Lakkula, Swathi Aayushi Alluri, Kushal Durga, Aanya Das,Sri Bhargavi Samudrala, Sai Sri Ram Karnati, Akshara Datla, Arav Patel,Avni Patel, Dhruvi Shah, Drithi Bathula, Oviya Jaisankar, Rishabh Mavatoor, Advithi Kothapalli,Swara Rege, Supraja Pattangi,Kushi Kanumuri, Rachana Raghunathan, Manas Singh,Vrinda Singh, Akshith Ashwanth
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
VT Seva Detroit Youth Board 6th Annual Towel Drive(JAN 4- JAN 23):
We collaborated with Last Day Dog Rescue to donate towels to their organization to make taking care of foster animals an easier task for the caring volunteers who spend their time making the lives of animals better every day. This year, over 25 of our Youth Board members donated 100+ towels to the rescue center.
Youth Lead: Oviya Jaisankar
Youth Volunteers:
Oviya Jaisankar, Kushal Durga, Rachana Raghunathan, Varun Aerabati, Pranav Kota, Avni Patel, Arav Patel, Aanya Das, Saahas Atluri, Swara Rege, Amogh Mavatoor, Rishabh Mavatoor, Dhruvi Shah, Saicharan Saripalli, Shalini Srinivas, Varshan Muhinthan, Kethana Vunyala, Varshini Barla, Sai Sri Ram Karnati, Videep Routhu, Aarav Holani, Devon Holani, Akshith Ashwanth, Sanyog Iyengar, Sankeerth Enganti, Saathvik Koneru
Adult Volunteers: Komathy, Nalini, Srinath, Kanchana, and Priya
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
VTS Youth Board 2026 Coats and Socks Drive(FEB 14 - FEB 28):
During the month of February, VTSEVA Detroit Youth Board has held a "Coats and Socks Drive to donate to our beneficiary, the Open Door Ministry. The Open Door Ministry is an organization that collects and organizes food and supplies to distribute them to families in need. A total of 36 coats and 33 pairs of socks were collected during this drive. These clothes will be donated to families and children in Guatemala who may need them.
Youth Lead: Manya Sri Narasapalli
Youth Volunteers:
Aaryan Gajawada, Akshith Ashwanth, Avni Patel, Arav Patel, Drithi Bathula, Dhruvi Shah, Kriyan Gamini, Manya Sri Narasapalli, Ranjani Shankar, Sanjay Ramamoorthy, Siddharth Ramamoorthy, Sai Sahasra Namuduri,Snigdha Lakkakula, Tushita Saravanan
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
VT Seva Detroit Youth Board CASS Community Service (FEB 22, 2026):
The youth board made bagged lunches for those living on the streets, cleaning the kitchen, sorting the pantry, and giving the areas a refresh. While the tasks we performed were simple, knowing these meals, supplies, and cleanliness will transfer to the hands of those who need it most makes it as special as possible. What we did helped make someone's day, and that made the experience all the more meaningful.
Youth Lead:Oviya Jaisankar
Youth Volunteers:
Oviya Jaisankar, Kushi Kanumuri, Lukshay Raj Are, Khanindra Raj Are, Advithi Kothapalli, Drithi Bathula, Swathi Aayushi Alluri, Sreya Namboodiri
Adult Volunteers:
Priya Jaisankar, Jai Kannan, Praveen Kanumuri, Lavanya Kothapalli
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
VTS DET YB 2026 Clothing Drive (March 9th - March 21st 2026):
The VTS Detroit youth board organized a clothing drive to support the Destined for Greatness organization, bringing together 22 Dedicated Youth volunteers with a shared goal of giving back to the community.Thanks to their efforts, over 110 articles of clothing were collected. These donations will help families in need access comfortable clothing for the summer season.
Youth Lead:Bhagya Shetty
Youth Volunteers:
Kalki Anand,Aanya Das,Avni Patel,Kapil Inamdar,Arav Patel,Siddharth Ramamoorthy,Sanjay Ramamoorthy,Aaryan Gajawada,Advithi Kothapalli,Drithi Reddy Bathula,Akshara Datla,Swathi Aayushi Alluri,Amogh Mavatoor,Rishabh Mavatoor, Snigdha Lakkakula,Rachana Raghunathan,Sahana Sagayanathan,Sri Vasudha Vundi, Tushita Saravanan,Dhruvi Shah,Varun Aerabati
Adult Volunteers:
Nalini,Kanchana,Sushma
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Detroit Projects:
Group 1 Arts and Scraps Remote (Jan 7 to Jan 14):
We defuzzed many boxes of sock loops. The sock loops were given to Arts and Scraps. The sock loops are distributed to Detroit and used in many art projects.A dedicated group of youth and adult volunteers partnered with Arts and Scraps, a vital nonprofit organization that supports schools in the Detroit area by providing tools such as the sock loops to use in art projects.Volunteers individually defuzzed the sock loops before dropping them off to after all 20 kits were assembled we gave the kits to Nicole from the arts and scraps team.
Youth Lead: Drithi Bathula
Youth Volunteers:
Drithi,Sanjay,Siddharth,Dhruvi,Varun,Tushita,Swathi,Rithika,Hemaksh,Jenisha,Avni, Arav,Aanya,Kushi,Dhyaanesh,Sri Vasudha,Videep,Sahana
Adult Volunteers:
Krishna Bathula,Suresh Rajan,Vanitha Gopalan
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
DAV Project(January 17th 2026):
This year during this project, the youth who volunteered created flowers using sticks and paper flower pieces, and then organized them into bundles of 20. Through teamwork we were able to create 2,300 flowers!
Youth Lead:Arav Patel
Youth Volunteers:
Arav Patel, Avni Patel, Swathi Aayushi Alluri Varun Aerabati, Drithi Bathula, Sahana sagayanathan, Aaryan Gajawada, Dhruva Vankayalapati, Dhanya Deepali, Sreya Namboodiri ,Dhruvi Shah ,Sri bhargava, Naginder Gogna, Aarav Holani, Devon Holani, and Neil gogna
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Destined for greatness MLK Event(January 19th 2026):
VT Seva Detroit volunteers actively supported the effort by sorting and organizing basic necessities, including shoes, toys, clothing, bedding, and more. In addition, our volunteers completed a large-scale cleanout of two floors of a pharmacy, helping prepare and organize critical resources for community use.
Youth Lead: Varun Aerabati
Youth Volunteers:
Varun Aerabati; Sanjay Ramamoorty; Kushi Kanumuri; Advithi Kothapalli; Akshara Datla; Dhyaneesh Giridharan; Shreya Shetty; Bhagya Shetty; Lukshay Raj Are; Khanindra Raj Are; Paheli Jain; Kriti Makenna; Jeevesh Ganesh Kumar; Bhargav Paini; Yathi Debbata; Rohit Makenna
Adult Volunteers:
Varun Aerabati; Sanjay Ramamoorty; Kushi Kanumuri; Advithi Kothapalli; Akshara Datla; Dhyaneesh Giridharan; Shreya Shetty; Bhagya Shetty;Lukshay Raj Are; Khanindra Raj Are; Paheli Jain; Kriti Makenna; Jeevesh Ganesh Kumar; Bhargav Paini; Yathi Debbata; Rohit Makenna
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Group 2 Arts and Scraps Remote Socks Loops Project(February 1st-14th):
A committed group of youth members and adults were able to put time into getting bags of the goods and sending them back when completed. A vital nonprofit organization that supports schools in the Detroit area by providing tools such as the sock loops to use in art projects.Volunteers individually defuzzed the sock loops before dropping them off to after all 13 kits were assembled we gave the kits to Nicole from the arts and scraps team.
Youth Lead: Aanya Das
Youth Volunteers:
Aanya Das, Rachana Raghunathan, Rohith Makkena, Kriti Makkena, Litha kota, Snigdha Lakkakula, Kethana Vunyala Ishaan Jaseen, Nehaan Jaseen, Bhagya Shetty, Lukshay Raj Are,Khanindra Raj Are,Samyutha Pasunoori,Kanali Rajkumar
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Food Gatherers (February 7th 2026):
Our team packed and sorted about 1,172 pounds of food,helping support families and individuals across Washtenaw county.
Youth Lead: Dhruvi Shah
Youth Volunteers:
Dhruvi Shah, Shanya Kota, Avni Patel, Arav Patel, Sanjay Ramamoorthy, Varun Aerabati, Advithi Kothapalli, Kethana Vunyala, Akshara Datla, Kriti Makkena, Kushi Kanumuri
Adult Volunteers:
Shilpa Shah, Lavanya Kothapalli, Praveen Kanumuri, Madhuri Vunyala, Vanitha Gopalan, Suresh Rajan, Jyoti Bodapati
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Forgotten Harvest (February 16th 2026):
Our dedicated volunteers split into two groups & worked together to pack boxes with Black beans, green beans, northern beans, Pears, pumpkins, oats, pistachios & Help Line cereals. These efforts supported 900 families in need.Additionally, some volunteers assisted in another section, where they helped package 1,857 pounds of food, reaching families and individuals across Detroit.
Youth Lead: Dhruva Vankayalapati
Youth Volunteers:
Dhruva Vankayalapati, Khanindera Raj Are, Lukshay Raj Are, Snigdha Lakkakula, Varun Brijesh, Advithi Kothapali, Kushi Kanumuri, Aaryan Gajawada, Daksith Ale, Varun Aerabati, Sanjay Ramamoorthy, Suvir Mallipudi
Adult Volunteers:
Vanitha Gopalan, Sireesh Vankayalapati, Vandana Durga, Vaishnavi Aerabati
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Oakland Food Pantry (February 21 2026):
Our volunteers divided into two teams to help serve families in need. The majority of us took “food tickets” and followed a circuit-style setup, packing vegetables, canned goods, bread, and fruit into crates. Meanwhile, a smaller group worked efficiently to load the completed crates into the correct cars based on each ticket. Altogether, we packaged 202 crates of food—providing support for approximately 800 people in our community.
Youth Lead: Sahana Sagayanathan
Youth Volunteers:
Sahana Sagayanathan,Dhanya Deepak, Akshara Datla, Kethana Vunyala, Sanjay Ramamoorthy, Aanya Das, Sri Bhargava Samudrala, Swathi Alluri, Advithi Kothapalli, Dhruva Vankayalapati, Dakshith Ale, Aditi Madhu, Saras Vunyala.
Adult Volunteers:
Vanitha Gopalan, Loganayaki Ramamurthy, Priya Deepak, Suresh Rajan,Madhuri Vunyala, Lavanya Kothapalli, Srikanth Vunyala.
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Hospitality House (February 28th 2026):
Our team actively supported pantry operations by restocking shelves with food products and helping customers with actively picking out their groceries.During the shift, we multitasked primarily by assisting customers in selecting food items, considering some products had limits and others depended on family size. Additionally, we restocked food supplies to ensure everything was readily available for those visiting the pantry.By the end of the event, Hospitality House confirmed that 4,391 pounds of food were contributed to the people we helped regarding food assistance!
Youth Volunteers:
Khanindra Raj Are, Varun Brijesh, Lukshay Raj Are, Advithi Kothapalli, Sahana Sagayanathan, Dhanya Deepak, Akshara Datla, Swathi Alluri, Bhagya Shetty, Aanya Janga
Adult Volunteers:
Vanitha Gopalan, Rajendar Are, Suresh Rajan,Sanjana Datla
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Group 3 Arts and Scraps Remote(March 1-16 2026):
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.
Youth Lead: Rachana Raghunathan
Youth Volunteers:
Drithi Bathula, Sanjay Ramamoorthy, Siddharth Ramamoorthy, Snigdha Lakkakula, Dhruvi Shah, Varun Aerabati, Rohith Makkena, Krithi Makkena, Aanya Das, Ariha Jhaveri, Rachana Raghunathan
Adult Volunteers:
Raghu Muralidharan, Ranjani Shankar, Suresh Rajan
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
DRAW Warehouse (March 14th 2026):
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.
Youth Lead:Dakshith ale
Youth Volunteers:
Dakshith Ale , Dhruva Vankayalapti, Aaryan Gajawada,Sri Bhargava Samudrala,Tushita Saravanan, Henil Patel, Drithi Bathula,Akshara Datla,Swathi Aayushi Alluri, Anushka Vikram
Adult Volunteers:
Devanand Ale,Lavanya Kothapalli,Vijaya Datla
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Kroger Solicitation Food Drive (March 22nd 2026):
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. These are our wonderful volunteers who participated.
Youth Volunteers:
Shreya,Dhruvi,Akshara,Advithi,Sonam,Drithi.Anika,Tarini,Srinidhi,Varun,Kalki
Adult Volunteers:
Suresh,Shilpa,Lavanya,Lipsa,Srinath,Sudheer,Jaisanker,Priya,Naresh,Nandhini,Sreenivas,Asha,Praveen,Vanitha
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
Capuchin Soup Kitchen (March 28 2026):
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
Youth Lead:Advithi Kothapalli
Youth Volunteers:
Advithi Kothapalli, Sanjay Ramamoorthy, Drithi Bathula, Swathi Aayushi Alluri, Rohith Makkena, Kriti Makkena
Adult Volunteers:
Vanitha Gopalan, Suresh Rajan, Lavanya Kothapalli, Jyothi Bodapati
FACEBOOK:
INSTAGRAM:
VTS Club Events:
IAE VTS Club - Snowcraft Kit Making (January 27th 2026):
Hey everyone! On January 27th, members of the IAE VTS Club came together to create snowman craft kits for the Children’s Hospital, hoping to bring a little joy to young patients during their stay. Each kit included paper cutouts and glue sticks, allowing kids build their own snowman and enjoy a moment of fun. In total, 50 kits were made! Thank you so much to the volunteers who helped make the kits! We’re incredibly proud to be able to make a meaningful and positive impact in our community.
IAE FACEBOOK:
IAE INSTAGRAM:
WIHI VTS Club - Book Drive(January 31st 2026):
In order to have books for our Make It Take It Reading Kit Program coming up in June, WiHi VT Seva ran a book drive at our school. We figured that it was a great way to get hands on children’s books that would otherwise be thrown away, and that people at our school would give books that they loved as a child and that new kids will be able to love! We received a total of 30 books, and we can’t wait to read these books to our community’s youth and help them decorate reading kits!
WIHI INSTAGRAM:
WIHI VTS Club - Cancer Awareness Event (February 16th 2026):
WIHI VTSeva hosted a pin-making event on Thursday, February 16th in order to raise awareness about Childhood Cancer, since Childhood Cancer Awareness Day was earlier this month. We had more than 30 students come together to help assemble over 200 little, golden ribbon pins, which we then handed out to the student body the following day. It was rewarding to see so many people wearing the golden ribbons on Friday and it was especially heartwarming that so many people asked for them and wanted to proudly show their support for those suffering from cancer. Thank you to everyone who helped make a difference!
WIHI INSTAGRAM:
Plymouth Scholars VTS Club - DAV Flower Event -1(February 19th 2026):
The VTS Club students from Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy Detroit came together with incredible enthusiasm and heart to create 1,236 DAV flowers in support of Disabled American Veterans, and every single flower represents gratitude, respect, and kindness.What makes this achievement truly special isn’t just the number… It’s the compassion behind it. These young changemakers proved that even small hands can create a huge impact when driven by service and empathy. After school hours became moments of teamwork, laughter, and purpose, all to honor those who have given so much to our communities.
PLYMOUTH SCHOLARS INSTAGRAM:
PLYMOUTH SCHOLARS FACEBOOK:
IAE VTS Club - Shamrock Shakedown Card Making(March 3rd 2026):
On March 3rd, our school community came together to spread some luck and encouragement for the Shamrock Shakedown. We created more than 67 heartfelt cards for the four teams, including the Troy Center for Transition students, playing in the basketball tournament! Each card carried more than just words; it carried support, pride, and the reminder that an entire community is cheering them on. Sometimes a small message can make a big difference, and we hope these cards brought smiles, confidence, and a little extra motivation to every player. Thank you to everyone who took the time to write, create, and share kindness. Because of you, we helped make a player’s day a little brighter and reminded them they are supported every step of the way.
IAE INSTAGRAM:
IAE FACEBOOK:
Troy High VTS Club - DAV Flower Making Event(March 10th 2026):
For Day of the Veterans, Troy High VTS made flowers to honor and celebrate the brave veterans who served our country. Each flower was made with care to show respect and gratitude. This activity allowed us to express our thanks in a creative way. Making the flowers also brought our group together to honor them as a community.
Troy High VTS Club INSTAGRAM:
Troy IAE VTS Club - Math Kangaroo(March 16th 2026):
Recently, members from the IAE VTS Club came together and helped run a Math Kangaroo Competition at the Sri Balaji Temple with around 85 kids competing! Volunteers helped run the event in various ways such as helping at the registration tables, proctoring the exam, and helping the kids if they have any questions during the test. We’re so proud to have been able to contribute and help run this event smoothly, and thank you so much to all the volunteers who took their time to make this competition a success!
Troy IAE VTS Club INSTAGRAM:
Troy IAE VTS Club FACEBOOK:
Plymouth Scholars DAV Flower Event - 2(March 22nd 2026):
With creativity and compassion, on 3/22/26, the VTS Club students from Plymouth Scholars Charter Academy Detroit dedicated their time to craft 1,116 DAV flowers in support of Disabled American Veterans. Every flower they made serves as a heartfelt symbol of appreciation, honor, and kindness for those who have bravely served our country.
PLYMOUTH SCHOLARS INSTAGRAM:
PLYMOUTH SCHOLARS FACEBOOK:
WIHI VTS Club - Senior Sendoff Gift Packing(March 23rd 2026):
As our seniors approach the last couple days of their high school career, and as they prepare to take their rigorous IB exams, the WiHi VT Seva Club decided that we wanted to do something to support them and show how much we care about them and their future success! We made 120 kits that include studying materials like sticky notes and highlighters as well as things that hopefully just make them smile, like candy and fidgets! We wish our seniors well as they prepare for their exams and their future!
WIHI INSTAGRAM:
Troy High VTS Club - Clawson Food Pantry(March 28th 2026):
Troy High VTS volunteered at the Clawson Food Pantry, where they organized food donations by expiration date to ensure everything was safe. Expired items were properly discarded, and all shelves were thoroughly cleaned. As a result, the pantry is now more organized, making it easier for community members to find and receive the food they need. Overall, the volunteers had a great experience, and the club looks forward to returning in the future.
Troy High VTS Club INSTAGRAM:
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