Gratitude Offerings to Unseen Heroes, Upstate New York
The Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) students of the Albany and Rochester Sai Centers in upstate New York sprang into action by sharing their reflections and expressing their gratitude to the unseen heroes in their respective communities. During the winter of 2017, when a major wind storm led to power outages that lasted for days, the Rochester SSE students led by Young Adults made special homemade "Thank You" cards and posters to restoration crews, firefighters, police, and ambulance crews, for their brave and dedicated efforts in restoring power and removing uprooted trees. What made the power restoration even more challenging were the heavy snowstorms that ensued. The Rochester SSE students understood the tireless efforts and behind-the-scenes sacrifices made by these unsung heroes and took the initiative to show their heartfelt gratitude.
The SSE students of Albany Sai Center invited a Veteran to speak to them, and learned how many countless people in the community make sacrifices for us each day in unseen ways. Subsequently, the SSE students of Albany Sai Center made creative thank you cards to express their love and gratitude to the veterans, a wonderful gracious gesture from the children.