By: Priya Balachandran
Vibha-Chicago Action Center conducted an event at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC.org), Aurora location, on 02/13/2014, Friday. This local volunteering activity was aimed at creating awareness about Vibha in the local community and to attract the attention of both adults and children who are interested in helping the community. A team composed of Vibha volunteers along with service-minded people and Elementary school kids from the local community participated in this event. We got support from a local social network group in advertising our event.
At the FMSC center, volunteers hand packed meals specifically formulated for malnourished children for an hour and half. These meals are shipped all over the world to about 70 countries to help aid children internationally. This event directly reflected the Vibha’s mission ‘to educate, empower and enable every individual who wishes to make a positive difference in the life of the underprivileged child’. It offered parents an opportunity to inspire their kids for volunteering, and elementary-school kids took the opportunity to begin volunteering with Vibha and giving back to their community. It also gave the volunteers a chance to get a taste of field work experience. This event also emphasized Vibha as more than just a fund-raising organization; it incorporated community and service which are two core values for the Vibha organization as a whole.
The children who went to the Aurora location of FMSC were enthusiastic in participating. They experienced the feeling of happiness everyone can get from helping make a difference in someone else’s life. Volunteering is beneficial for both parties. Those in need receive aid, and the volunteers gain a sense of values and can delight in the fruits of the work they put in. These small act of kindness have a ripple effect and help teach an entirely new generation of children the beauty and joy of volunteering. The children who attended the event learnt that it is exciting be a part of team working for a cause. Apart from great experiencing of packing and positive environment, it was fun to see how little hands pack food for the less fortunate ones.
Vibha volunteering participation certificates were distributed to all those who attended the event to recognize and encourage their involvement. Vibha Chicago Action Center believes in ‘acting locally and impacting globally’. Like us on Facebook!