Sri Sathya Sai International Organization - USA

Members of the Northeast Region of the SSSIO-USA continued to actively demonstrate their commitment to selfless service and community well-being. They provided hot meals to the needy and brought cheer to nursing home residents. A major focus was on serving the environment - they offered classes at a local high school, planted trees and cultivated flower gardens, and expanded the Unity Center vegetable garden, using the fresh produce to prepare healthy meals for the needy. They also tended to healthcare needs of those in underserved areas by organizing health fairs and blood drives.

Volunteers from the Mid-Atlantic Region of the SSSIO-USA actively served their community in 2024. Three inspiring service activities are highlighted. A large health fair was held at a public library, where nearly 400 attendees received health education, medical consultations and free eyeglasses. Sai volunteers also donated 200 sets of handmade baby blankets and hats for newborns at a local hospital, bringing cheer to their struggling mothers. They also continued their forty-year-old tradition of providing 500 meals at a local church pantry. These timely efforts highlight the region's commitment to serving others and addressing community needs.

Sai volunteers across the Southeast Region of SSSIO-USA are actively serving their communities. In Georgia, they cared for animals at an animal sanctuary and cleared the sides of a highway. In Florida, they cleared trash along the St. Johns River and created gifts for women and children in need. These diverse acts of service demonstrate their continued commitment to helping others.

Sai volunteers across the Mid-Central Region continued to joyfully support their adopted community, the World Bird Sanctuary, in diverse ways. They also provided food packs and school supplies to children in need and volunteered at a food bank and a health fair. An innovative project was creating tote bags from recycled material for residents of a women's shelter. They continued to offer hot meals to families, elderly residents and those experiencing homelessness. They also engaged in tree planting and tree care. Two of the youngest volunteers share their experience, proving that you are never too young to serve!

Volunteers from the SSSIO-USA North-Central Region had a diverse and impactful year of service in 2024.  They knitted winter hats for the homeless, served them hot meals, and engaged in several tree planting initiatives. Young adults organized a summer camp for underserved children. SSSIO members joyously shared Sai human values in a local community parade, while the SSE Council fostered a love for greenery by distributing money plants to Sai Center members. These projects fostered community engagement, promoted spiritual growth, and exemplified Sai values of selfless service and love.

Members from the SSSIO-USA Pacific North Region engaged in a variety of service projects, involving Sai Spiritual Education children. They made blankets for animals at a shelter, carried out a toy-and-book drive for children in need, assembled food packs for food-insecure students, learned about sustainable agriculture, and supported the homeless through tiny home construction and monthly groceries. These activities fostered compassion, the joy of serving and environmental responsibility.

Volunteers of the SSSIO-USA of Northern California and Nevada continued to actively participate in a myriad of service projects, many involving Sai Spiritual Education students. They distributed meals and sandwiches to people experiencing homelessness, and cultivated gardens. They also volunteered at the annual Day on the Beach, an event for people with differing abilities, by providing lunch and fun activities. These efforts foster community engagement and environmental awareness, and strive to embody selfless service.

Members of the Southern California Region of SSSIO-USA provided hot meals to the homeless, serving at various locations, including Skid Row, and more recently, using a food truck. They volunteered regularly to sort and pack at a large food warehouse. Free medical camps provided vital heath checkups for those in need. Listen to young adults as they reflect on the transformational impact of service, how it fosters connections and inspires them to prioritize service in their daily lives.

Service activities of SSSIO-USA members from the Southwest Region continued to flourish in 2024. Sai volunteers planted trees in Jemez Pueblo and revived a community garden. They also hosted a health and wellness workshop and provided food for those experiencing homelessness. Officers also held regular study circles on the SSSIO guidelines. They hope to continue strengthening the communities they serve.

Members of the SSSIO-USA South-Central Region have been offering various services in their respective communities, such as health screening for refugee families, regular blood donations and tree planting in disaster-impacted areas. Food service to the underprivileged remained a staple activity across the region, with volunteers, both adults and children, grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.