Sewa International — a Hindu faith-based, humanitarian, nonprofit service organization founded in 2003 — surprised staff at Beacon Media Tuesday morning with the gift of several handmade face masks.
Jyothi Yayavram, Vivek Chandran and Ravi Chilakamarri, members of the local chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) spearheaded the creation and delivery of the much needed masks to essential workers including firefighters, medical professionals, other first responders and local newspaper(s), including Beacon Media News.
The philosophy of HSS is to show appreciation to those who have demonstrated “great courage and sacrifice and service to the community during these unprecedented times,” Chilakamarri, Temple City Chapter coordinator, said during a brief interview Tuesday.
Chilakamarri told Beacon Media that the “world is one family” and that HSS volunteers have made and distributed over 1,200 masks in the local area to hospitals and those in most need.
Referring to frontline and essential workers as “Covid Warriors”, the Temple City chapter also distributed masks to the Temple Station Sheriff’s department as well as other first responders.
The project, which has been ongoing now for two months, has helped countless people and organizations with colorful, comfortable and 100%-cotton face masks, which have become a part of everyone’s daily life during this pandemic.
Sewa International is part of a larger movement that started in India in 1989 and is active in 20 countries. Sewa serves humanity irrespective of race, color, religion, gender or nationality.
The humanitarian organization specializes in disaster relief and rehabilitation. Their development programs focus on family services; child, tribal and refugee welfare; women’s empowerment; health; and education. In addition to their work in the U.S., the volunteers have undertaken development projects in Colombia, Guyana, India, Kenya, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Believing in the Dharma principles of “Serving humanity is serving
divinity” and “Unity in diversity,” HSS is about service above self, teamwork
and self-reliance.
For more information about this organization please call (909) 919-0836 or
email: hss.templecity@gmail.com.
