In Austin, Texas, two community organizations have united for a common cause: to ensure that underserved students are provided with necessary school supplies. The 12th annual School Supplies Packing event, a collaboration between Hindu Charities for America (HC4A) and Shalom Austin, cashed in on the spirit of community support and unity to equip local schoolchildren for success. According to a report by CBS Austin, the event was bolstered by the City of Austin's "We All Belong" initiative, reinforcing the drive to provide critical resources for the youth.
Preparing for the event, volunteers gathered at the Dell JCC Community Hall, were seen unloading and organizing supplies with dedication. A post on HC4A's Facebook page highlighted the behind-the-scenes efforts made in anticipation of the big day. Due to the volunteers hard work, who handled the bulk supplies for the packing stations, more than 1,500 children will have the tools they need to thrive in the coming school year.
Pankil Matalia, operations director at HC4A, reflected on the significance of the event, with origins that trace back to his upbringing. “It really brings a pride and joy and sense of satisfaction to me," Matalia told CBS Austin. He continued, "Growing up back in India, my mom and dad taught me what is giving back to community means. I participated in similar events back in India, where we were giving food supplies, so who knew destiny that 35 years later, I’d be standing here in the U.S. as a citizen of this country and to be part of this proud moment, where we’re doing a very similar exercise.”
The resources for this philanthropic effort were largely sourced from HC4A's “Bollywood Meets Borscht Belt" (BMBB) fundraiser, which took place in April. The lavish event raised more than $40,000, a sum that translated into tangible aid for over 1,500 homeless students. With every notebook and pen distributed, HC4A and Shalom Austin continue to stitch a quilt of diverse communities coming together, united in the belief that education is a right, not a privilege, and working to ensure that every child is afforded that right as they step into the school year.
