Breakfast for residents in a shelter for homeless (at the Krash Cabin, downtown and the Turning Point Center, Houston) - 8:00 to 9:30 am on 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month and on special occasions
Center volunteers distribute breakfast of croissants, muffins, granola bars, bananas and juice to the people living in shelters in downtown Houston and Turning Point Center. On special occasions such as on Baba’s Birthday and other festivals, volunteers distribute clothes and other daily-use items along with breakfast. On the first Saturday of the month, this service is done by devotees from the Katy area. On the third Saturday, it is done by devotees from Sugar Land.
Narayana Seva at Turning Point Center, 1701 Jacquelyn Drive, Houston 77055
3:00 pm to 5:30 pm (4th Saturday of the month)
Volunteers sign up for ingredients and cooking help. All ingredients are gathered and brought to the Turning Point Center. Using their well-equipped kitchen facilities, volunteers prepare hot meals and serve it to the residents of the Turning Point Center. The residents enjoy the dinner and later assist in the clean-up. Adult and Young Adult volunteers perform this service/seva on the 4th Saturday of every month.
During this Seva, volunteers also conduct a Story Circle Hour during which inspirational stories are shared with the residents. The stories foster much discussion and provide a forum to learn from fellow residents along with the volunteers. The stories are interspersed with the Young Adults singing popular songs along with the residents. This seva provides an opportunity to make deeper connections in the community.
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Sandwiches / Lunch Packs for residents of shelter for the homeless at Krash Cabin, downtown and the Turning Point Center - 8:30 am to 10:30 am (first three Sundays)
Center volunteers prepare 200 lunch packs consisting peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, vegetarian sandwiches (with cheese, veggie-meat slices, lettuce, cucumber, pickles), fruits, chips, cookies or crackers, and juice. Lunch packs are distributed to the residents of Krash Cabin in downtown Houston, the Turning Point Center in Houston, and a women's shelter in Richmond, Texas.
First Sunday: First Colony Group (Sugar Land Area)
Second Sunday: New Territory Group (Sugar Land Area)
Third Sunday: HWY 6/Katy Group (South Houston Area)
Children's Protective Services (CPS) - 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm (every 2nd Sunday)
6425 Chimney Rock, Houston, Texas, 77081
CPS is a temporary home for troubled adolescents in our society. They stay in this facility for a maximum period of 3 months, before they are placed in foster homes, sent back home, or sent elsewhere. This service project involves conducting a birthday party for children housed there. The Sai Center’s service coordinator calls ahead to determine how many children with birthdays during that month are at the facility, their age, and gender. Sai volunteers bring appropriate gifts for each child to celebrate the birthdays of the month. In addition, cake, ice cream, and soft drinks are served to all the children. Then volunteers mingle around, conduct themselves in a respectful manner, interact and have fun with the children they meet at the facility. Special attention is given to the children celebrating birthdays. Volunteers play games to spread cheer and love to all the residents. The children at the facility are mostly teenagers, so Young Adults & SSE Group 3 children typically participate in this service.
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Richmond Health Care Center - 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm (every 3rd Sunday)
705 Jackson, Richmond, Texas, 77469 and
Woodbridge Nursing Home - 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (last Sunday of the month)
8810 Long Point Rd, Houston, Texas, 77055
These are nursing homes for senior citizens. Sai Center volunteers play bingo with them, where everyone is a winner and gets a gift (e.g., tissues, socks, lotions, powders, soaps, perfumes, and jewelry. Volunteers also serve ice cream and have devotional songs singing sessions with residents of the facility (songs are improvised with names of residents in the lyrics for their birthday or other celebration - to make each individual feel special).
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Tutorial Seva: 9.00 am to 11.00 am (all Saturdays during the academic school year as requested by the school)
At the request of schools we tutor students who require additional help in Math and Science to pass TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) examinations. The school’s teachers select the students. Sai volunteers tutor them on Saturdays. Volunteers strive to tutor students like friends rather than teachers. This informal approach works well with the teenage students
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South Houston Sai Center Setup and Cleanup (every Sunday)
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm
This is an important service opportunity for devotees to help support the physical operation of the Sai Center.
Various tasks - such as altar setup, chair arrangement, audio, projector, computer and other activities need to be undertaken. Devotees are expected to arrive at the Center by 2:00 pm for this service. Council members will be available to guide and assist volunteers.
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