NEW JERSEY-- A group of Hindu organizations kicked off the season of giving in November with the first â€œSewa Diwaliâ€ food drive of its kind in New Jersey.

â€œSewaâ€™ is an act of selfless service embedded in our Hindu tradition culture since time immemorial. Diwali is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of light over darkness.

To that effect many organizations came together with over 50 collection centres and adults/seniors in many townships with several middle/ high schoolers in Monroe Township did door-2-door campaigns and spread awareness by collecting food such as non-perishable and canned food items. They braved cold weather standing in front of grocery stores and also through several community campaigns.

This effort has brought over 100s of people reaching 1000+ people , collecting over 17,500 pounds of food items, over 50+ collection centrescame together during our celebration of Festival of Lights known as Diwali for a noble cause #SewaDiwali.
The effort was led by the Hindu SwayamsevakSangh (HSS) in collaboration with organizations such as , GayatriParivaar , Sewa International, , India World Foundation USA, VHPA,Hindi USA, andOverseas friend of BJP, Hindu Student Council. South Jersey Indian Association Param Shakti Peeth, PSPA, IlankaiTamilSangam, TV Asia, Mallakhamb USA Federation, , Hindu Temple Pomona NJ, Senior Citizen of Atlantic City, Kerala Hindu of North America,

Mayor of Woodbridge, Mayor of Robbinsville and Mayor of Monroe, Mayor of Atlantic City and around 10 townships hailed the efforts of Hindu communities to undertake such an initiative to help the community.

â€œItâ€™s very important for the Indian community to give back to the local community and let them know that we care about them,â€ said SandeshKamat, who led the food drive in Chesterfield. â€œThereâ€™s no better time than Diwali to do this.â€

The State Co-ordinator, Nimesh Dixit said â€œ #SewaDiwaliinitative has brought many organizations together and this is the beginning of such intiaitives and more are being planned in coming yearsâ€

Sewa Diwali collects 17,500 pounds of food items in NJ