Sewa Diwali Volunteers Donated More than 3,000 Pounds of Food
Volunteers for the Sewa Diwali food drive donated 3,003 pounds of food to the Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry in Naperville.
The food donation can serve 510 families for a day, organizers said.
Volunteers also donated $1,000 in cash to Loaves & Fishes, which said they can purchase food in bulk worth $10,000.
Since its inception in 2018, Sewa Diwali has grown to a nationwide coalition of more than 400 organizations spanning 34 states, organizers said. These organizations includes Hindu temples and spiritual groups, Indian American linguistic organizations and Interfaith communities.
Sewa Diwali exemplifies the spirit of giving, particularly during the festival of Diwali.
At the Nov. 19 Naperville City Council meeting, Mayor Scott Wehrli and Councilman Benny White presented the mayoral proclamation that honored the 50 Naperville-area Indian American organizations that joined together to organize the food drive.
Sewa Diwali leaders include Nand Garg, of Hindu Satsang, Ratna Kapur, of KS Foundation, Nagesh Rai, of HUM, Nagraj Rajaram, of Sewa International, Kalyan Puntambekar, of HSS Naperville, Shivam Vishwanathan and Sakshi Sharma, of AAINA, and Preethy, of Telangana Association. Naperville’s Interfaith leader Bruce Duffield of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ also joined the food drive.
Naper Settlement Plans Festive Month
Naper Settlement will continue its Holly Jolly Days celebration Friday, Dec. 13 to Sunday, Dec. 15 and Thursday, Dec. 19 and Friday, Dec. 20.
Children and their families can enjoy holiday crafts, stories and more at the settlement, 523 S. Webster St. A blacksmith will demonstrate how reindeer shoes are made and the museum’s one-room schoolhouse is the site of a story time.
Families can take holiday photos with a Victorian backdrop at the Paw Paw Post Office where children can also mail a letter to Santa. Santa will not be at the event, organizers said.
Several of the settlement’s historic buildings will be lit up for the season.
The Weed Ladies will also have their winter sale, selling holiday- and winter-themed floral arrangements in the Daniels House.
Holly Jolly Days is recommended for families with children 12 years old and younger. The cost is $5 per person, and children under 4 are free.
Holly Jolly Days will take place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
For tickets, go to www.napersettlement.org.
