Community Outreach
The Hindu Temple Society (HTS) of Augusta maintains a community outreach committee which supports service activities and builds community relations. Over the years HTS members have partnered with many local organizations and served the local community through volunteer efforts and other contributions. HTS has also raised funds to support the needs of local schools and several charitable organizations. Through the years HTS fundraising efforts have also provided monetary support to disaster relief efforts locally and internationally.
The community outreach committee maintains an active calendar of events every year. Volunteers and donations are solicited for service activities and projects during the year.
Covid Relief Efforts: The HTS community raised funds to support Covid relief efforts locally, as well as in India. Locally, food drives through the Golden Harvest Food Bank, toiletry drives support of Safe Homes and local schools are part of the Covid relief efforts of HTS. HTS has made monetary contributions to non-profit organizations such as Ramakrishna Mission and Sewa International towards Covid relief for India.
Master’s Table Soup Kitchen: Serves hot lunch to more than 325 hungry people in downtown Augusta everyday. Address: The Master’s Table, 842 Fenwick St, Augusta, GA 30901 (www.goldenharvest.org). In a typical year, HTS members help with food preparation and food service on designated days in the year. For more information and to sign up with the HTS team contact: Meena Arun at nacha.bala@gmail.com
Garden City Rescue Mission: It is a homeless shelter for men and is located downtown. HTS members contribute much needed items such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other personal items. Members receive notification of the collection campaign via e-mail during the holiday season each year.
Balshala Projects: The Balshala program (open to children of HTS members ages 4 -12) gives back to the community by collecting items to donate to various local charities such as Golden Harvest Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House and Safe Homes. For more information contact the Balshala Coordinator at teambalshala@balshala.org
Youth Group Projects: The Youth Group program (open to children of HTS members’ grades 8 – 12) is involved in fundraising and providing volunteer support for several outreach projects throughout the year. Notable among them are Rise Against Hunger, Lydia Project and the Alzhiemer’s Walk. For more information contact the Youth Group Coordinator Sanjiv Singhal (bulldogs1980@gmail.com)
Support of Local Schools: The HTS community supports public schools in Richmond and Columbia County by donation of school supplies, teacher appreciation gifts and snacks during testing.
Arts in the Heart of Augusta: This annual festival is a celebration of food, arts, diversity and culture. Held in downtown Augusta on the third weekend in September each year, it features a juried Fine Arts and Crafts Market, a Global Village with food from more than 20 countries, five stages stacked with live entertainment and much more. HTS has sponsored the Indian pavilion at the festival for the last 24 years and will continue the tradition this year. It takes many months of planning and preparation as well as the support of over 190 volunteers to showcase our cuisine in the Indian tent which has won prizes for best food, best booth, best presentation, etc. HTS also sponsors a popular Mehendi tent supported by talented henna artists and features a cultural event by the children/youth of the community on the Global stage.
Many volunteers are needed for various tasks including set-up, clean-up, food preparation and transportation during the festival. For more information or to sign-up to help, contact Sheila Kamath (sheila731@yahoo.com) or Surekha Prasad (puttur_prasad@msn.com).
The community outreach committee maintains an active calendar of events every year. Volunteers and donations are solicited for service activities and projects during the year.
Covid Relief Efforts: The HTS community raised funds to support Covid relief efforts locally, as well as in India. Locally, food drives through the Golden Harvest Food Bank, toiletry drives support of Safe Homes and local schools are part of the Covid relief efforts of HTS. HTS has made monetary contributions to non-profit organizations such as Ramakrishna Mission and Sewa International towards Covid relief for India.
Master’s Table Soup Kitchen: Serves hot lunch to more than 325 hungry people in downtown Augusta everyday. Address: The Master’s Table, 842 Fenwick St, Augusta, GA 30901 (www.goldenharvest.org). In a typical year, HTS members help with food preparation and food service on designated days in the year. For more information and to sign up with the HTS team contact: Meena Arun at nacha.bala@gmail.com
Garden City Rescue Mission: It is a homeless shelter for men and is located downtown. HTS members contribute much needed items such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other personal items. Members receive notification of the collection campaign via e-mail during the holiday season each year.
Balshala Projects: The Balshala program (open to children of HTS members ages 4 -12) gives back to the community by collecting items to donate to various local charities such as Golden Harvest Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House and Safe Homes. For more information contact the Balshala Coordinator at teambalshala@balshala.org
Youth Group Projects: The Youth Group program (open to children of HTS members’ grades 8 – 12) is involved in fundraising and providing volunteer support for several outreach projects throughout the year. Notable among them are Rise Against Hunger, Lydia Project and the Alzhiemer’s Walk. For more information contact the Youth Group Coordinator Sanjiv Singhal (bulldogs1980@gmail.com)
Support of Local Schools: The HTS community supports public schools in Richmond and Columbia County by donation of school supplies, teacher appreciation gifts and snacks during testing.
Arts in the Heart of Augusta: This annual festival is a celebration of food, arts, diversity and culture. Held in downtown Augusta on the third weekend in September each year, it features a juried Fine Arts and Crafts Market, a Global Village with food from more than 20 countries, five stages stacked with live entertainment and much more. HTS has sponsored the Indian pavilion at the festival for the last 24 years and will continue the tradition this year. It takes many months of planning and preparation as well as the support of over 190 volunteers to showcase our cuisine in the Indian tent which has won prizes for best food, best booth, best presentation, etc. HTS also sponsors a popular Mehendi tent supported by talented henna artists and features a cultural event by the children/youth of the community on the Global stage.
Many volunteers are needed for various tasks including set-up, clean-up, food preparation and transportation during the festival. For more information or to sign-up to help, contact Sheila Kamath (sheila731@yahoo.com) or Surekha Prasad (puttur_prasad@msn.com).
