A group of Hindu American organizations kicked off the season of giving in November with the first Sewa Diwali food drive of its kind in New Jersey.
Sewa is an act of selfless service embedded in Hindu tradition. Diwali is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of light over darkness.
Many organizations came together with more than 50 collection centers, and adults/seniors in many townships with several middle/high schoolers in Monroe Township did door-to-door campaigns or stood in front of grocery stores to collect food, according to a statement released in January.
This effort collected more than 17,500 pounds of food items, led by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) in collaboration with Gayatri Parivaar, Sewa International, India World Foundation USA, VHPA, Hindi USA, Overseas Friend of BJP, Hindu Student Council, South Jersey Indian Association Param Shakti Peeth, PSPA, IlankaiTamil Sangam, TV Asia, Mallakhamb USA Federation, Hindu Temple Pomona NJ, Senior Citizen of Atlantic City, Kerala Hindu of North America, Woodbridge Township, Robbinsville Township, Monroe Township, Atlantic City, Chesterfield and Edison Township.
“It’s very important for the Indian community to give back to the local community and let them know that we care about them,” Sandesh Kamat, who led the food drive in Chesterfield, said in a prepared statement. “There’s no better time than Diwali to do this.”
The state coordinator Nimesh Dixit said, #SewaDiwali initiative has brought many organizations together and this is the beginning of such initiatives and more are being planned in coming years.”