Sewa Diwali Food Drive

In November 2025, a community food drive called Sewa Diwali collected and donated thousands of pounds of food to local shelters in and around South Windsor. In total, approximately 4,700 pounds of food were distributed to organizations including The Village for Families and Children in Hartford, the South Windsor Food Pantry, and Wapping Community Church.

The donation event at the South Windsor Food Pantry was attended by several local and state leaders, including State Representative Tom Delnicki, South Windsor Mayor Audrey Delnicki, and State Senator Saud Anwar. After seeing the large amount of donated food, Mayor Audrey Delnicki expressed her appreciation for the community’s efforts, saying, “I’m amazed at what came in here today.”

The food was collected through the efforts of many volunteers, especially children, who stood outside various grocery stores asking customers to purchase non-perishable items and donate them. Arnav Malpure , Freshman from South Windsor High School , described the experience " It wasn’t easy, because out of every ten customers we approached, only one or two would donate. However, even those small donations made a huge impact."

Sewa Diwali has been hosting food drives for the past six years on the occasion of Diwali: the festival of lights, with the goal of supporting families facing food insecurity, particularly during the holiday season. The initiative is run by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), a nonprofit social and cultural organization that is entirely run by volunteers. One volunteer involved in the drive described the group’s mission by saying, “We are hungry to kill the hunger.”

Local food pantries often experience increased demand during the fall and winter months, making large-scale donation efforts like Sewa Diwali especially important. This year, food shelters faced additional challenges due to broader economic pressures and a government shutdown, increasing the need for community support. By partnering with multiple organizations, the drive was able to extend its impact beyond South Windsor and assist families in neighboring areas as well.

Sewa Diwali continues to serve as an example of how community-driven volunteer efforts can make a meaningful difference for those in need.