Life Comes Full Circle - Feeding the Needy: Lake Washington, WA
Sri Sathya Sai reminds us: “Seva is the highest expression of Love. When you serve others, you are serving your own Self.”
The Sanskrit word seva means selfless service offered with love and humility, without expectation of reward. For the Sri Sathya Sai Center of Lake Washington, seva is a journey that has truly come full circle. Studying the local challenges of homelessness in the Seattle area first led the Center to the Tiny Home construction project over six years ago. Having contributed to nearly 150 tiny homes, members continue to seek deeper ways to connect with the residents of these shelters. This journey now brings the Sai Center members regularly into multiple tiny home villages in collaboration with LIHI (Low Income Housing Institute).
As part of the year-end celebration for the SSE program in 2024, members set a bold goal—to serve every tiny home village within a 50-mile radius, reaching 18 villages and providing over 1,000 meals in a single day. Through these interactions, they discover that many residents are refugees from Afghanistan, Nepal, and various African nations. A warm Indian meal, rich in familiar tastes and spices, often becomes a “treat from home.” Inspired by these heartfelt responses, members establish monthly food service projects that continue today.
To ensure that every Center member can actively participate in serving the needy, the effort is organized into neighborhood pods—small groups of members living near each other. By rotating responsibilities across these pods, many members have the opportunity to cook, drive, and serve meals on the first Saturday of each month. SSE children add their love by baking cookies, providing the sweetest part of the meal and making this seva a truly shared experience across generations.
Each Seva event brings together 4–5 families to prepare a healthy Indian meal for around 100 people. Members deliver the food, serve it hot, and engage with the residents—listening to their stories, offering encouragement, and sharing smiles. One particularly touching moment occurs when a mother calls her daughter over to try the home-cooked Chole curry, saying with emotion, “This is how our food feels.”
In addition to meals, members also share carefully selected preloved clothes, which residents receive with gratitude and warmth. This aspect of the project is organized by older SSE students, giving them invaluable experience in planning, communication, and teamwork.
What is most beautiful for the Center members is witnessing the full circle of seva: from helping build tiny homes to now touching the lives of residents with a simple, loving meal. These acts of service demonstrate daily how seva not only benefits the community but also transforms the hearts of those who serve.
Through this ongoing journey, members of the Sri Sathya Sai Center of Lake Washington are constantly reminded of Swami’s teaching that “Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray.” Truly, it is a blessing to partake in this circle of love and life.