In a remarkable show of community spirit and altruism, BAPS Charities recently concluded its 70-day ‘Days of Giving’ campaign, amassing nearly 10,000 essential items for those in need. Launched at the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey, the initiative aimed to gather school supplies, hygiene products, and food items to benefit various local organisations.
The beneficiaries of this expansive campaign include the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County, HomeFront NJ, Legacy Treatment Services, Rise, Robbinsville Food Pantry, Shine and Inspire, The Rescue Mission of Trenton, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), and Womanspace Inc. As the Akshardham temple prepared for its grand opening, the donation drive became a focal point, attracting volunteers and well-wishers from across the United States.
The campaign didn’t just meet its objectives; it exceeded them. More than 12,000 items were collected, underlining a collective commitment to philanthropy within the community. Sweta Patel, an Early Childhood Education Coach and the coordinator for the campaign’s collection and delivery efforts, expressed her astonishment at the outpouring of support. “It was overwhelming to see how so many people are willing to support this cause,” Patel said. She highlighted how families embraced the opportunity to give back, whether by adding extra food cans to their shopping carts or by bringing a suitcase brimming with school supplies.
The campaign also served as a teachable moment for the younger generation. Purvi Desai from Houston, Texas, participated in the ‘Days of Giving’ campaign along with her son and daughter. She viewed it as a unique opportunity to instil in them the values of service and generosity. “My kids were excited to be part of the campaign as part of the Akshardham opening. Regardless of who we are and where we live, we can still make a difference in the lives of others,” Desai remarked.
The collected donations were regularly delivered to the partner organisations by BAPS Charities’ volunteers. Prutha Patel, a Pre-med student at the New York Institute of Technology, recently had the chance to witness first-hand the impact of the campaign. She met children at the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County who will be using the donated school supplies. “I’m grateful I had the opportunity to see the impact of this campaign first-hand. It showed me the importance of participating in these kinds of initiatives to support our local community,” she said.
In keeping with its half-century tradition of unity, compassion, and selfless service, BAPS Charities has once again proven its dedication to community betterment. Earlier this summer, the organisation hosted one of New Jersey’s longest-running blood drives, collecting enough blood to save over 10,000 lives and help alleviate a state-wide blood shortage.
The ‘Days of Giving’ campaign embodies the core principles that BAPS Charities has upheld for decades. It serves as a reminder of the immense good that can be achieved when a community unites for a cause, turning individual acts of kindness into a powerful force for change.
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#BAPSCharities' 'Days of Giving' campaign in #NewJersey collected over 12,000 essential items, fostering community unity & philanthropy, benefiting local organisations & underscoring the power of collective goodwill. 🛕🤝 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/fyuAubHRmk
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