Dallas Service Activities (Old)

Consider selfless service as the best spiritual discipline. … But do not believe that you can by means of selfless service reform or reshape the world. You may or may not; that does not matter. The real value of selfless service, its most visible result, is that it reforms you, reshapes you. Do selfless service as a spiritual discipline; then you will be humble and happy.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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The Bridge Breakfast seva on Sundays.

We will only be serving Breakfast that is provided at the venue.

For more information or to participate,
please call Bro. Srinivas Madala.

Monthly on Saturday – Family Gateway Center: Prepare/serve meals for homeless, 4.00 pm. 

Location: 711 South St Paul Street, Dallas, TX, 75201

Volunteers will get Veg Pasta, Cooked Corn, Fruit Juice, Milk, Cookies, Bread for Dinner. For more information or to participate,
please call Sister Bindu MA.

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Community Gardening
at Sai Center

We are excited to resume the gardening activity for this year again.

Volunteers are needed for restoring the garden for this spring season.

We look forward to having more SSE kids.

 

For More Information and/or to participate, please call
Sis. Roshini Shreshta.

 

Monthly Fri – Austin Street Shelter: Prepare/serve meals for homeless, 7.00 pm

Come and make a difference in the life of a people.

For more information and/or
to participate in this monthly seva,
please call Sis. Vijayashree Venkat.

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Collin County “Meals-on-Wheels”: Meals for elderly/disabled, 11:00 am held on Weekly Fridays. 

Volunteers will drive, collect the food items in coolers and deliver them to Elderly/Disabled people.

For more information,  please call Sis. Jayashree Solanki.

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Sri Sathya Baba Center of Dallas: Afghan Refugee Family Adoption

A National Refugee Support Spotlight was held on March 5, 2022, for SSSIO to launch a more coordinated and systematic approach to working with refugees in the U.S.
The Dallas Sai Center’s journey with recently relocated Afghan Refugees began on a hot, sunny day in August 2022.  We met 7 families with dozens of children.  We were eager to learn more about them and see how to best meet their needs.  What started as helping with clothes and groceries, with Swami’s Grace, quickly turned into adopting all 7 Afghan families and their various needs; supporting them as they adjusted to their new schools and workforce in Dallas.  
Newly arrived families require help to learn English as a foundation to be confident and successful in school and work.   Children need homework help as well as help to learn English and work on their math skills to build confidence in their classroom. 
In total, we work with 4 men, 5 women, 5 High Schoolers, 4 Junior High students, 14 boys and 2 girls who are in elementary school. We have 4 preschoolers too!
Online tutoring sessions are held during the week, Monday – Thursday, via Zoom from 6:30 – 7:30pm for junior high, high school students, and men.  
On Saturdays, we visit in person from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. to work with the women and elementary age children.  Sessions are held in their apartment complex in Dallas. 
Our volunteer base is currently 22 adults and 15 SSE students who sign up to tutor via Google Sheets.  Each volunteer attends an orientation to the project to understand the mission and who we are serving.  A core component to the orientation is understanding the sensitivity to the trauma the adults and children have faced.  We pray to Swami to help us infuse each session with love, patience, and encouragement. 
Tutors use Sai’s teachings to build a bond with the adults and children.  We show our dedication and devotion through consistent, weekly sessions.  We are building a relationship and showing that we really care about our Afghan friends.  
Over the last 6 months, we’ve gotten to know everyone by name and need.  We utilize various modalities to assess, engage, assist, and motivate each person via games, videos, online and printed materials developed by SSE and community teachers geared to complementing the Dallas Independent School District Curriculum.  
In addition to tutoring, we have procured and received donations of cribs, car seats, bikes, scooters, chrome books, Indian and western clothing, household items, sewing machines, blenders, books, printers, groceries, shoes, jackets, games, popular board games, and diapers.  We are fortunate to have a generous community that donates new and gently used items and plan to keep up with the growing needs of this community. 
We thank Swami for this opportunity to interact with these wonderful families.  
They are are so appreciative, gracious, and friendly as they work through the gravity of challenges uprooting from Afghanistan - halfway around the world.  We are learning more than we give and appreciate the opportunity to grow.  Thank you, Swami.  May we continue to serve for Your Highest Good. 

Sri Sathya Baba Center of Dallas: Young at Heart – Senior Social 

March 8, 2023
Laughter, reflection, Love for Swami, memories, sister, and brotherhood bonds were all shared over food and good fun on Saturday, March 4th.  The Seva wing of The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Dallas planned a beautiful afternoon for the eldest members of our Center.  
The goal was to host a daytime event, considering that many of our Seniors do not like to drive at night, and provide an opportunity for games, good food, and fellowship.  Everyone was asked to send an old picture along with a recent one.  Members guessed who the person or couple was from their younger photo and each was given time to recollect stories from earlier days.  
There were many volunteers to ensure all members were comfortable, had food and drink and any assistance that was required. A short video of the event can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/sathyasaicenterofdallas
Our goal is to do this social once a quarter and use the time in between to check in on their ongoing needs be it transportation, help with technology, healthcare etc.  Each wing plans to take a turn in hosting and will incorporate games, music, and other activities. 

Service is the very essence of devotion to God, and the goal of devotion is realizing one’s innate divinity. Sathya Sai Baba emphasizes that every act of selfless service, performed with unconditional love and the attitude of serving God residing in those being served, confers immense spiritual benefit. It is primarily sadhana (spiritual discipline) that allows compassion, love and peace to blossom within and helps to get rid of the ego. 

Members engage in service activities depending on local needs. Among these are: Providing food, water, and clothing to the needy, orphans and handicapped; visiting hospitals, nursing homes, or shelters for the homeless; organizing medical camps and blood donation drives; initiating disaster relief programmes; adopting under-privileged schools and slums; participating in community development

Regional Activities

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Check out all the wonderful Seva taking place in the US that's spotlighted in the June 2022 edition.

As you might be aware, the state of Louisiana had been greatly impacted by the Category 4 Hurricane Ida causing significant damage.

Hurricane Ida is the fifth largest hurricane to hit US main land in recorded history. SSSIO has initiated a national supplies drive to help our brothers and sisters suffering the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.

On the website, we have set up 3 events. Each event is aimed at serving one or two communities.

We are praying to support all the communities listed for their supply needs. A relief supply effort of this scale requires participation and support from all members of SAI family.

Sai Cares

Sai Cares is a free and Confidential help line for devotees who need assistance with personal challenges or needs. 

 

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Emergency Preparedness

We're putting together useful and helpful resources for you.

We will post it here as we get things completed. Please check back for updated information

NOTE:
All service opportunities are performed in a contactless manner
and with proper COVID 19 safety measures.

Special Service Projects

Specail Service Projects -

Community Gardening

  • Location:  CUCC, 2875 E Parker Road, Plano, TX

  • When:      Saturdays

  • Contact:   Roshini Shreshta

Celebrating Swami’s  97th birthday with 97 days of Continuous Service

Dates: Mon, Aug 15th to Mon, Nov 20th 
•Request families to provide one or more meals to:

  • First Responders, Mailmen, Garbage/Recycling Collectors, Yard Workers, Homeless people
  • May have to make more than one bag if there is a team of people
  • Each family can make a gift bag with a minimum of 9 dry food items
  • Suggestions: Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Rice, Beans, Oil, Snacks, Breakfast bars, Cereal, Condiments, Tea/Coffee powders.

76 days are open for signup  
•Signup => https://tinyurl.com/97-Days-Continuous-Service
•Contact: Srinivasa Madala

Afghan Tutoring Seva - 

•Afghan families who are settling in Dallas area are in immediate need of learning English
•Learning English is the key to finding work, studying and in assimilating in the community
• We are looking at kick starting English tutoring program 
•Looking for volunteers who can help with tutoring activities
•  Tutoring volunteer Interest  Survey : https://tinyurl.com/DSC-ESL-Tutoring
  Contact:  Chitra Niranjan /Jayanthi Srinath / Srinivas Madala

Regional & National Initiatives

Go Green Initiative

From using biodegradable items such as plant based cutlery, plates, cups, and trashbags for all events (steel plates, spoons, etc are also available to borrow) to encouraging devotees to plant and compost. Go Green team also has many exciting initiatives.
Learn More

Disaster Relief

Region 10 has been helping with ongoing Disaster relief work in Louisiana after hurricane Laura. Volunteers aided affected victims by providing and distributing water, food, clothing, and other necessary supplies. Help is still needed. Interested in Volunteering? Contact: Brother Mahesh - (832) 314-6032
Learn More
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Click on the image to the above to visit the Sai Connections website. 

Sai Connections is a USA Media Bulletin featuring inspiring community events undertaken by Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centers from around the country.

Visit and Be Inspired!