Sai Care Women’s Kits for the Homeless, Colorado
Inspired by the recent National Women’s Mini Retreat, and under the leadership of women, members of Sri Sathya Sai Centers of Southeast Denver and Boulder in Colorado lovingly created and distributed Sai Care women’s kits for homeless women, including mothers with children, within their communities.
The Sri Sathya Sai Center of Southeast Denver worked with Family Tree House of Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides a ninety-day safe shelter and supportive services for homeless women with children. Fifteen volunteers of all ages gathered to fill twenty-five backpacks with journals, pens, bookmarks designed by SSE (Sai Spiritual Education) children with uplifting Sri Sathya Sai Baba quotes, fifty handmade prayer bracelets, gourmet chocolates and gift cards, all procured and put together with lots of love. The volunteers also included a designer purse, along with personal hygiene items such as large bottles of fragrant lotion, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizers, socks and other special tokens of love for each mother.
One of the children expressed, “being creative and making bookmarks with positive encouraging quotes for these homeless mothers during exam week inspired and energized me to focus on making a difference!” Another child confessed, “it made me realize how much I take for granted and how blessed our family is.”
On April 27, 2021, the kits were delivered to the House of Hope Shelter, where they were received with heartfelt gratitude. “No one has ever done anything special like this for our mothers,” the Director spoke in tears. “I can’t remember the last time I received such beautiful gifts,” affirmed a mother while rocking her two-month-old tight. Although it was a rainy day, the gloom seemed to have been lifted by the joy reflected in the faces of the women.
Sri Sathya Sai Center of Boulder chose to collaborate with Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, which houses nearly one hundred and twenty people, including twenty women. This shelter provides transitional housing and multiple other resources to assist the homeless in overcoming obstacles. Sai Center members ordered special environmentally friendly bags for making the Sai Care women’s kits. They filled the bags with many personal hygiene items such as body lotion, hair products, deodorant and bath soaps. To top it off, they also added home-made cards with inspirational messages from Sri Sathya Sai Baba. A hand-sewn closure was placed at the top of each bag to secure the items.
Boulder Sai Center members contributed to the purchase of the items. Two volunteers assembled the bags and created tags with “Sai Care Women’s Kits” written on them and attached to the handles of the bags. The kits were delivered to the Boulder Shelter on April 20, 2021, in honor of Aradhana Day, the day Sri Sathya Sai Baba left His physical body. “It was such a joy to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these women and give from my heart,” one volunteer reflected. A shelter representative expressed in gratitude, “We are so appreciative of these beautiful items- your generosity and compassion mean the world!”