Woodbridge Hindu Civic Group Gives Backpacks To Local Kids In Need

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — This September, the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh of Woodbridge (HSS) donated a total of 40 backpacks stuffed with school supplies to Woodbridge Township schools.

The Indian-American civic group gave 16 backpacks to Indiana Avenue School #18, received by school principal Christopher Chiera, who warmly thanked the group.

The group also donated more than 24 backpacks to Councilwoman Sharon McAuliffe, who will then discreetly distribute the backpacks to individual students in need.

In a true example of Woodbridge taking care of its own, Iselin-based accounting firm Goel CPA purchased the backpacks and school supplies that went inside them.

"Many thanks to Lokesh and Pooja, owners of Goel CPA, and HSS volunteers for their generous donations and support," Councilwoman McAuliffe posted on her Facebook page.

The Hindu group specifically named this year's backpack drive "VidyaDaan," as in Hindi "vidya" means knowledge and "daan" means sharing. Daan, or sharing, has very significant importance in Hindu culture.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (www.hssus.org) is a non-profit social and cultural Hindu Indian-American organization. HSS in the United States started in 1989 and today has over 250 chapters in 32 states across the country.

HSS conducts structured programs of regular athletic and academic activities to develop self-discipline, self-confidence and a spirit of selfless service, or what's known in Hindi as "sewa."

HSS is very active in Woodbridge, conducting events such as a community Yogathon, Teacher Appreciation Day, food drives and a winter clothing drive, plus yoga for seniors and community clean-ups.

Next up, HSS Woodbridge will start their fifth annual, month-long #Sewadiwali food drive, starting from the end of September in connection with the Hindu festival of Diwali. Last year, their Sewadiwali food drive donated 13,000 pounds of non perishable food to the "We Feed Woodbridge" campaign.