Canada
Throughout the year, several community initiatives are organized by various Sai Centers to support those in need and also serve Mother Nature. These initiatives include nonperishable food drives, Meals on Wheels, and tree planting.
The Sai Music Club of Edmonton has been serving as a beacon of spiritual joy through the power of music. The club regularly organizes musical events, offering a harmonious blend of classical and devotional songs. These performances unite people of all ages and backgrounds, fostering a sense of unity and peace.
The Saskatoon Service Wing embodies love in action. Members of this community have long been dedicated to helping those in need, whether through food drives, support for the homeless, or offering assistance to vulnerable members of society. Their unwavering commitment to service has touched many lives.
The Mississauga-Central Sai Center’s Tree Planting Initiative is part of a broader effort to contribute to the environment and celebrate Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s centennial Birthday. Planting trees symbolizes growth, renewal, and the impact of Baba’s teachings. The Malvern Spiritual Sai Center (MSSC) promotes spiritual growth and selfless service. Through its SSE Easwaramma Day program, children learn the values of compassion, service, and leadership, through creative and engaging activities that inspire them to live with love and purpose. The notable MSSC Knights Table Project brings volunteers together to prepare and serve meals to those in need.
The Toronto-York Sai Center organizes Soup and Sandwich Drives, serving warm, nutritious meals to those in need. This simple gesture brightens the lives of many, reminding everyone of the power of kindness and compassion. The drive takes place two weekends each month, with 10 to 12 volunteers serving meals to approximately 150 people.
The Calgary Young Adults and SSE Students visited local seniors’ homes on May 25 and December 14, 2024. About 20 Young Adults, SSE students, and other participants interacted with approximately 30 seniors. SSE students presented songs and poems in May and Christmas Carols in December. They filled the rooms with festive music and laughter, singing classic carols and engaging the residents in games. The joy was mutual, with both the young guests and the seniors sharing moments of warmth, connection, and love.
The Seva Project, run by the Calgary Sai Center offers much-needed support to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Volunteers provide around 60 meals for families with children undergoing cancer treatment, thus offering not only nourishment but also emotional support during a difficult time. This monthly initiative is a reminder of how kindness can make a profound difference in people’s lives.
The Vancouver Sai Center continues to support the community by preparing and distributing hot meals to those experiencing food insecurity. Each meal, prepared with love and care, serves as a reminder that no one is ever forgotten, and every individual deserves compassion, respect, and dignity. These meals do more than fill the stomach; they nourish the spirit. The bi-weekly event is supported by 15 volunteers who serve about 100 hot meals each time. Over the years, they have prepared and served around 10,000 hot meals and distributed 400 sandwiches every month.
Jamaica
In 2024, several initiatives were implemented to support vulnerable groups in the community. In April, food was distributed to commemorate Aradhana Day at both the Care Center, which feeds 60 homeless individuals daily, and the West Haven Children’s Home, which is home to 100 children. Additional food donations were made to the children’s home during Guru Poornima and again in September, demonstrating continued care and commitment.
On May 26, 2024, a free medical camp was held in collaboration with the Indian High Commission of Jamaica. Two volunteers, including a doctor, assisted in treating over 300 patients.
On the third Sunday of every month, SSSIO volunteers go to Mary’s Atkins Shelter Home to prepare and serve breakfast to 150 homeless individuals. As the school year began, school supplies were given to 12 children from the community of Providence in St. James, helping them start the academic year prepared. Regular monthly food donations were also made to the St. James Infirmary, which supports 40 homeless adults and senior citizens. To celebrate Christmas, each resident at the infirmary received a package of goodies, and the team sang carols, spreading joy and festive spirit.
SSSIO volunteers celebrated Christmas with 15 teenage mothers at Mary’s Child Home by singing carols and gifting personal care packages. Additionally, in partnership with Sister Benedict Chung, they distributed 1,000 grocery packages to those in need in the Law Street community.
Suriname
In March 2024, the SSSIO of Suriname participated in the national event, Spirituality and Healthy Lifestyle, promoting human values to more than 700 attendees of various faiths. Seven volunteers and two Sai Spiritual Education children shared Sai’s message of universal love as Holi was celebrated with dance and music. The event included raising environmental awareness, free food distribution, and wheelchair donations to elderly residents.
On September 15, volunteers from the Sri Sathya Sai Center of Sonjastraat distributed 30 food hampers to residents of Kothaceruvu village in Andhra Pradesh, India. Each hamper provides meals for two or more days.
In honor of Avatar Declaration Day, volunteers from the Sri Sathya Sai Center of Sonjastraat provided school supplies to 33 children in rural areas and food packages to two food-insecure households. The school supplies included pens, notebooks, and a pencil case, while the food hampers contained essential food items. All packaging was sustainable.
Trinidad and Tobago
On January 20, 2024, the SSSIO of Trinidad & Tobago held its annual Unity of Faiths program with the theme ‘Nonviolence Begins with Me.’ Speakers included Mr. Yamin Ali Baksh, Pundit Keshav Ramdeen, Rudranath Mangroo Persad, and Mrs. Vinti Mohip. They emphasized the importance of non-violence. Mrs. Mohip invited religious leaders to join future outreach programs for positive change. The event, which was attended by 150 people, including parents and students from Longdenville Sathya Sai Primary School, featured a multi-faith devotional session promoting inclusivity and interfaith unity.
On March 10 and 24, the National Ladies Wing of the SSSIO in Trinidad and Tobago organized a clothing drive and a food hamper drive at the Sai Nilayam facility. The clothing drive, supported by 20 volunteers and 100 participants, promoted social welfare and environmental sustainability. The food hamper drive, hosted by 10 SSSIO volunteers and 35 participants, assisted community residents who were facing food insecurity.
On April 21, the National Devotional Wing of the SSSIO Trinidad and Tobago celebrated Aradhana Mahotsavam at Sai Nilayam. The program featured prayers, devotional singing, presentations by children from the Sathya Sai Primary School and SSEHV classes, and a musical offering by the Young Adults of the SSSIO Ocean of Music subcommittee. Around 130 people gathered to honor the eternal love, wisdom, and compassion of Lord Sai.
On May 5, Longdenville Sathya Sai Primary School celebrated Easwaramma Day with its Second Walk for Values, organized in collaboration with the SSSIO of Trinidad and Tobago. The theme, ‘Nonviolence Begins with Me,’ aimed to raise awareness about practicing human values. Approximately 400 participants walked from Santos Recreational Ground to Sai Nilayam, displaying posters with messages of nonviolence. The event included environmental awareness booths and a commitment to avoid single-use plastics. Members of Parliament endorsed the initiative, and participants left inspired to promote nonviolence in their lives and communities.
On May 30, the SSSIO in Trinidad organized a tree planting and family day at Eco-Park. Approximately 25 devotees, including both children and adults, planted 30 fruit and flowering trees along the walking track. The volunteers and newly planted trees were both blessed with a refreshing rain shower afterward.
In October, approximately 100 devotees, including 20 Young Adults, participated in the annual Diwali Nagar event in Trinidad, where the SSSIO booth attracted over 1,500 visitors. Devotees engaged in one-on-one discussions about Sai Baba’s work and distributed vibhuti, 2025 calendars, and Sai literature. The booth featured a children's coloring section, trivia games, and videos of Sai events. On the final night, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley visited the booth and learned more about Swami. The Sathya Sai Primary School celebrated its first public Diwali celebration with over 200 attendees. The event included a talk on values, devotional songs, a dance performance, a student presentation on Diwali’s significance, and a lamp-lighting ceremony. Sweets were distributed, and the program was enhanced by the participation of former students.
On November 8, the SSSIO Environmental Coordinator and Deputy Director of ISSE WI visited two Sathya Sai preschools in South East Trinidad to promote environmental awareness. The children received garden tools and plants, including okra, sweet pepper, turmeric, thyme, oregano, and sweet potatoes. The Ministry of Education's District Administrator attended the event and expressed appreciation.
USA
Across the ten regions of the USA, SSSIO members dedicated time and energy to serving their communities in meaningful ways. In the Northeast Region, the Sai Unity Center in Massachusetts, under the auspices of the LASA (Love All Serve All) Foundation, is addressing food insecurity in the surrounding low-income neighborhoods. The facility operates a pantry that provides monthly groceries, including a mobile pantry service as needed. They also expanded the community garden to grow fresh produce for local families and college students, and to prepare healthy weekly meals for the homeless. This collaborative project has promoted sustainable living and fostered community spirit. Biannual free health fairs at the Sai Unity Center serve 200-250 visitors, many from underserved ethnic communities.
In the Mid-Atlantic Region, the SSSIO focused on free healthcare services. Three health events were held at the North Bergen Public Library, New Jersey:
- Promotion of mental health awareness for 80 guests,
- Cancer screening for another 80 people, and
- Health fair, offering health education, health screening medical consultation, and eyeglasses to 130 people.
In Fairfax, Virginia, 200 primarily Spanish-speaking people received wellness education and health screenings. Volunteers across the region made 200 sets of baby blankets and hats for newborns of needy mothers at the Queen's Hospital. Sai groups donated 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to support homeless youth at the Covenant House, which rescues abandoned, abused, and trafficked young people. Additionally, members of the Manhattan Sai Center celebrated the birthdays of 50 memory care patients each month by arranging cake, music, and dancing for the event.
SSSIO volunteers from the Southeast Region participate in various activities including tree planting, providing meals and hygiene items for residents in local shelters. They also conducted online English tutoring for refugee children and spearheaded a project to provide backpacks, school supplies, clothing, and electronic items such as iPads.
In Northeast Atlanta, they visit the Daydream Animal Sanctuary monthly, caring for rescued animals like horses, goats, and cows, tending to the orchard, and performing farm chores. In Fort Lauderdale they enthusiastically participate in monthly sing-a-long sessions with the senior residents in a nursing home. In Miami Central they serve in a soup kitchen for the homeless in their community.
In Orlando they volunteered with ‘Clean the World’ to recycle surplus hotel soaps by shipping them globally to impoverished communities, rescuing them from unhygienic conditions.
The Mid-Central Region actively supports the World Bird Sanctuary (WBS) by contributing to ground maintenance, sponsoring bird care, and providing essential supplies. Their dedication has made them integral to the sanctuary community.
Sri Sathya Sai Centers across the North-Central Region are actively serving their communities. In Detroit, volunteers created healing cards with positive affirmations and prayers to uplift patients' spirits and support their recovery. In Milwaukee, SSSIO members knitted 120 beanies for Sri Sathya Sai Baba's 98th birthday and distributed them to homeless shelters to provide warmth during winter. Chicagoland's Young Adults organized a summer school for children in grades K-8, focusing on science, math, and the arts, to foster confidence and growth. Detroit SSSIO members also participated in the Farmington Founders Festival Parade, promoting human values through signs and songs, thereby raising awareness of the divine mission. Nearly 20 medical professionals and 60 general volunteers served at the annual health fair at the Epworth United Methodist Church, in Des Moines, Iowa, which offered a range of free health services to approximately 200 guests.
In the Pacific Northwest Region, children from Seattle Eastside crafted 25 warm blankets for animals at shelters. Older children prepared blanket-making kits, demonstrations, and video tutorials to assist younger children with the blanket-making process. Seattle-area Sai volunteers build tiny homes for the homeless. They also provide monthly groceries and welcome kits, supporting the residents' journey to stability.
The Sri Sathya Sai Center of Lake Washington, Washington, in partnership with Mercer Island Parks, participates in monthly forest restoration efforts by removing invasive species and planting native flora. Additionally, Sai volunteers offered resume writing workshops for Ukrainian refugees with professional skills and provided them with personalized guidance. SSSIO members in Beaverton, Oregon organized a community toy and book drive for children at a local shelter, teaching the SSE students about sacrifice and the joy of giving.
In Northern California’s Hayward School District, the Voices Academy, around 75 dedicated volunteers including high school students provided math and coding tutoring to over 250 elementary students from low-income, non-English-speaking households. This led to a strong performance at FLL Robotics Competition in Modesto with these students being the only Hispanic team at the event. At Morgan Hill Library, students receive academic tutoring, AP prep, and college application help. Notably, a former recipient now serves as a tutor in the same program.
The Sri Sathya Sai Baba Abode of Supreme Peace in Tracy, California has been a hub of selfless activities. Volunteers, including youth provided meals to unhoused encampments, downtown areas, and local shelters, and distributed essential winter supplies. They currently offer coaching in professional skills to help the homeless secure employment. The Abode promotes environmental stewardship by cultivating various fruit trees. Medical services include vaccination drives, medical and eye clinics serving 150 guests. Free eye exams and eyeglasses were given to 80 people at a Stockton shelter. In partnership with the Stanford Blood Center, successful blood drives were held in July and December 2024, leading to the collection of 73 units of blood.
Volunteers in the Southern California Region continue to address community healthcare needs. The annual free health fair was held at White Memorial Hospital on August 4, 2024, serving 220 guests, providing primary care, vision care, women's health services, nutritional advice, and eyeglasses.
The Sai Center at Sai Prema Nilayam continues to grow as a hub of activities. About 10-15 volunteers pack and distribute food weekly to the homeless in the area. Three hundred hoodies, 250 hygiene kits, and 350 toys were delivered to an adopted school, the Alvord School, in Riverside. On October 19, the Center hosted a health screening for 50 Sai devotees. The region also launched the initiative, the "Love All Serve All" food truck, with about 5-7 volunteers serving 250 vegan ‘mac’n’cheese’ meals monthly in underserved neighborhoods.
SSSIO members from the Southwest Region collaborated with members of the Jemez Pueblo (an American native tribe), planting 32 trees on Pueblo land in April 2024 as part of the One Million Trees Initiative of the SAI 100 program. The event included Tewa prayers and a Butterfly Dance marking a day of cultural immersion. The Bodhi Manda Zen Center joined, highlighting the community spirit across faiths. SSSIO members from Greater Phoenix and Prescott revitalized the Mountain View Community Garden, by weeding, repairing irrigation systems, and reorganizing sheds.
The South-Central Region continued to support the Afghan refugee community. The Austin Sai Center offered daily English tutoring for children during the week and personalized English classes for adults. The Houston and Dallas centers assisted refugee families with groceries and other essentials. The South Houston Sai Center organized a health screening camp that served 160 Afghan refugees, providing health screenings, nutritional advice, immunizations, and physician consultations. The Region also organized additional health screening camps, including one in partnership with the India Association of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, serving 60 guests with the assistance of five doctors and 30 volunteers.
The Austin Sai Center hosted its third blood donation camp, in partnership with ‘We Are Blood.’ The mobile donation van facilitated 11 blood donations, potentially saving lives. The region organized a tree planting event in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to reforest areas impacted by the hurricane. SSSIO volunteers from Texas donated 250 trees and planted 50 of them at a hospital, a park, and a church. The remaining trees were stored for future planting. The Region also participated in a tree-planting competition organized by the Houston Area Urban Forestry Council, with the North Houston team winning second prize by planting 100 trees in under 44 minutes.