Spreading Light And Hope: Diwali Food Drive By South Windsor Students

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT – Two nonprofit organizations – Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and Hoysala Kannada Koota – donated food in the spirit of celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, on Nov. 22. This year, the initiative aimed to embrace the holiday's spirit of generosity by collecting food donations for The Village, a Hartford-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering children, families and communities through social services and advocacy.

"We were honored to have the presence of State Senator Derek Slap and Toral Sanghavi, Director of The Village for Children and Families, at our handover ceremony," volunteer Om Chakraborty, a South Windsor High School sophomore, said. "Their support and recognition of our community's efforts inspire us to continue our commitment to service."

Centered on the theme "Sewa Diwali," the effort involved active participation from children in South Windsor schools and local volunteers. Over 3,000 pounds of food and essential items were collected, doubling the previous year's total. Donations included essentials like rice, pasta, canned goods, breakfast cereals, and household necessities, Chakraborty said.

A significant portion of the donations came from shoppers outside local Indian grocery stores, such as Spice Town, Sai Foods, Patel Brothers and Apna Bazar, where volunteers were welcomed to set up a table outside and engage with shoppers to explain “Sewa Diwali.” As customers entered and exited the stores, South Windsor students encouraged them to purchase additional items to contribute to the drive, making it easy for the community to participate in this impactful cause, Chakraborty said.

"The food drive, fueled by months of careful planning, demonstrated a deep commitment to uplifting the local community," Chakraborty said. "The collaboration with local stores significantly boosted the drive's outreach and impact. The collected items will directly benefit families in need through The Village, which provides crucial support services like mental health counseling, early childhood education, and basic needs assistance to thousands in Greater Hartford. The collaborative effort of HSS and Hoysala Kannada Koota, and the South Windsor community exemplified the true meaning of Diwali – turning joy and abundance into impactful action."

The spearheading organizations included Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS), a nonprofit which aims to coordinate the Hindu American community to practice, preserve, and advance ideals and values of Hindu, and Hoysala Kannada Koota, which promotes Kannada cultural values.