Celebrate, Serve & Donate at the Sewa-Diwali Food Drive

In preparation of this year's Diwali Celebration, the Festival of Lights, the Berkeley Heights YMCA and Summit YMCA will be participating in the Sewa Diwali campaign to give back to the community and provide a safe and inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds. 

Did you know hunger still affects lives of nearly 1 in 9 Americans while 1 in every 8 children are food insecure in America? The Summit Area YMCA will be collecting non-perishable foods to donate to local shelters as part of service to the community for the spiritual celebration of Diwali. The food contributed this year will be donated to the Morris County Interfaith Food Pantry!

The Sewa Diwali project is a collection of organizations and individuals rooted in Indic values. It's effort by organizations and people who believe in Sewa Dharma - “Service to Humanity is Service to Divinity.”

"Sewa" is another Sanskrit word, said to be derived from the two roots, "saha" and "eva". Respectively, these mean "along with" and "too, or as well." Put together, they are a reminder that our society's well-being is a responsibility which we all share and its fruits only as nourishing as the care we put into it. By dedicating Diwali to Sewa (Selfless Service), we can continue to serve our community and make an impact by supporting those who are fighting with food insecurity.

SEWA DIWALI FOOD DRIVE

When: Now - November 7
Where: Berkeley Heights YMCA and Summit YMCA
How: There will be drop-off collection boxes outside of both branches and donations are open to the public. 

HOURS OF OPERATION

BERKELEY HEIGHTS YMCA
Monday - Friday: 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday: 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

SUMMIT YMCA
Monday - Friday: 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday: 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

ITEMS YOU CAN DONATE 

• Bottle Condiments (Ketchup, Mustard, etc.)
• Canned Fruits
• Canned Soups
• Canned Vegetables
• Cereal Boxes
• Coffee and Tea
• Cookies and Crackers
• Pasta
• Pasta Sauce
• Peanut Butter
• Rice Bags
• Sugar 

Questions? Contact:

Patty Facchinei

Executive Assistance / Financial Aid / Volunteer Coordinator
SUMMIT YMCA

patty.facchinei@thesay.org
(908)273-3330 Ext. 1174

SUMMIT AREA YMCA

BERKELEY HEIGHTS YMCA | SUMMIT YMCA | THE LEARNING CIRCLE YMCA

In 1886, we were founded as the Young Men's Christian Association, but today, we are The Y. An association that values, and is made stronger by, its diverse people. We stand for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility — For a better us. We are committed to creating equal opportunity for all regardless of gender, age, disability, income, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive culture in which our four core values — responsibility, honesty, caring and respect — are integral to everyday operations.

Each year, as one of the area’s leading 501(c)3 charitable organizations, the Summit Area YMCA serves more than 15,000 individuals with our free and fee-based programs and services in an area spanning the New Jersey communities of Berkeley Heights, Gillette, Millburn, New Providence, Short Hills, Springfield, Stirling and Summit. Our history is rooted in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Through the generosity of our members, donors, and partners, we are able to offer financial assistance for our programs and services to those in need.