Winter Kits Service: Seattle, WA
During the winter of 2020, the Sri Sathya Baba Centers of the Greater Seattle area looked for opportunities to serve the homeless. A few months prior, members from the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Sammamish had learnt that one of the homeless shelters in Seattle no longer offered meals to their patrons during the weekends. They stepped in – they began making meals at home and delivering them on street corners in Seattle. This meal service gained a lot of momentum, leading to the Sai volunteers expanding the service project with the help of volunteers from the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Lake Washington.
As winter approached, the volunteers realized that there was an urgent need for warm clothing, medical supplies and other essential items. They communicated this need to the members of Sri Sathya Sai Center of Seattle Eastside and provided them with a comprehensive list of critical supplies required by the homeless.
Sai volunteers from the Seattle Eastside procured the materials, taking special care to ensure that all the supplies would survive the rainy Seattle climate. For example, they packed all items in waterproof backpacks to ensure that all the supplies remained dry and safe from the harsh elements. Additionally, along with first-aid kits, hand/foot warmers, socks, gloves, each backpack also contained a Subway gift card to ensure they had access to additional meals. Sleeping bags were also included in the list of supplies.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers paid special attention when ordering and packaging the kits. One family lovingly offered their home where all the supplies that were mail-ordered within the span of a few days were delivered and packed.
A small team of volunteers, practicing strict COVID-19 meeting guidelines, lovingly assembled all 95 backpacks with the winter readiness supplies. On the weekend prior to Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s 95th birthday, 95 backpacks and 25 sleeping bags, along with hot meals prepared by volunteers from the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Sammamish, were distributed with love to the homeless brothers and sisters in downtown Seattle.