Service

Service to others is one of the three wings of the Sathya Sai Organization. Center families regularly support Blessing Warriors, a Richmond organization that serves daily meals to people in need. We also help local schools and libraries.

"Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray." (Sathya Sai Baba)

Service at a glance

Activity	How often	Highlights
Friday breakfast	Every week	Fresh fruit for 25–30 people each week
Soup pantry supplies	Several times a year	Spices and seasonings for Blessing Warriors' daily soup
Canned food drives	Each spring and fall	Cases of soup, corn, green beans and baked beans
Summer water & Gatorade	Every summer	Cases of water and sports drinks for hot days
Winter kits	Every winter	48 kits and 48 sleeping bags (Jan 2025), 100 kits (Jan 2026), 101 kits (Nov 2026)
Thanksgiving blessing bags	November 2024	75 bags packed by Center families
Back to School seva	Every August	35 kits (2024), 127 backpacks (2025), 90 backpacks (2026)
Children's book drive	May 2023	Books for the Colonial Heights city library

Weekly breakfast service

Every week, Center families sign up to provide breakfast (bananas, apples and oranges) for 25–30 guests at Blessing Warriors. Families can shop and drop off the fruit themselves or ask the service coordinators to buy it for them.

Sai Pantry: soup and food drives

Blessing Warriors serves soup every day, especially during the cold months. Several times a year we stock their kitchen with the spices and seasonings they need, such as oregano, garlic, cumin, paprika, thyme, basil and bay leaves. We also hold canned food drives for tomato soup, sweet corn, green beans and baked beans, collected in cases of 36 cans. In December 2023 we collected 2,000 soup containers with lids for serving.

Summer hydration

Each summer, from May to August, we collect cases of bottled water and Gatorade so guests can stay hydrated in the Virginia heat.

Winter care kits

When the weather turns cold, we put together winter kits containing gloves, thermal socks, a warm hat, and personal-care items such as toothpaste, a toothbrush, lip balm, lotion and hand warmers. Buying in bulk lets every dollar go further.

• October 2023: winter clothing drive for gloves, socks, hats, sweatpants, hoodies, thermals, sleeping bags and blankets
• January 2025: 48 winter hygiene kits and 48 sleeping bags
• January 2026: 100 winter kits
• November 2026: 101 winter kits

Thanksgiving blessing bags

In November 2024, Center members packed 75 blessing bags at the Hindu Center of Virginia. Each bag held peanut butter, jelly, family-size chips and protein bars (400 bars in all).

Back to School seva

Every August, Center families fill school-supply kits for students in local elementary schools. Each kit includes a backpack, pencil box, composition books, pencils, folders, glue sticks, scissors, highlighters, erasers, sharpeners, markers and crayons. The kits are offered to Swami at the Sunday program before they are delivered.

• 2024: 35 kits for Ward Elementary and Laburnum Elementary, plus a September drive for classroom supplies
• 2025: 127 backpack kits
• 2026: 90 backpack kits

Children's book drive

In May 2023 we collected children's storybooks and educational books for the City Library of Colonial Heights.

How to take part

Every service project is announced at the Sunday program and on our Announcements and Events pages, along with a sign-up sheet. Everyone is welcome to take part, and you can help by shopping, dropping off items, or packing and delivering. To get involved, please contact us.