January 2020 – Newsletter
Before we dive into our monthly activities, we would like to thank Hionix, Inc and Priya Living for sponsoring our New Years’ Eve fundraiser event and supporting our mission of serving communities in need.
Hionix, Inc., is the premier provider of PVD metal and dielectric film deposition services to the semiconductor industry located in the Silicon Valley.
Priya Living is a multi-generational living community that brings people of all ages together, where neighbors are family, and where the fun and adventure of life never ends! Please visit www.priyaliving.com for more information.
This month, our Founder, Ayesha Charagulla visited Asha Jyoti Handicapped Welfare Society, a home for abandoned special needs kids and Sneha RIDES home for abandoned HIV+ children in India. EnE is helping them in their effort to create a loving & caring home for these children. She got firsthand experience of how the operations of this institute are conducted and how your contributions are making a huge impact on their lives. Thank you to all of you who support their meals while celebrating your special occasions.
A big THANK YOU to our board member Cecilia’s family who donated 3 lakh Indian Rupees to Asha Jyothi’s solar power project. This project would save monthly 10,000 Indian Rupees in power bills which can be utilized towards other monthly maintenance costs.
While in India, Ayesha also had the wonderful opportunity of celebrating India’s Republic Day (26th January) with children Sneha Rides.
Our volunteers at EnE, together logged in 646 hours of volunteering in January 2020!
A few important reminders:
- Synopsys Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair is looking for volunteers. This a great opportunity for high school students to get involved in STEM related activities. Volunteers will be awarded certificates which you will present to EnE to get your hours credited. Sign up at: https://acsef.zfairs.com/?f=25e2f89f-2696-4168-9805-abbfe4675d33&PersonType=y&FairRType=Volunteer
Interested parents can sign up as well to volunteer. If a parent or college student is interested in judging at this event, please contact Suzette Takei, Judging Coordinator and Tatyana Borovina, Asst Judging Coordinator at 510-468-6767 Suzette’s Cell, judge.acsef@gmail.com. - The following people can approve volunteer hours: Ayesha (San Jose, close to EV Square), Cecilia (San Jose, close to EVHS), Kavitha (San Jose, close to EV Square), Pallabi (San Jose, Country Club), Namrita Grover (Cupertino), and Geeta Hiremath (Fremont)
- Please use the following link to shop on Amazon.com: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-3656395. When you shop using this link, Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to EnE.
- Continue to enter your volunteering hours in the following google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14aCCBe74pU2ZQP2gdxXMGD3m0-8tKklzazClDQaB2rA/edit
- To learn more about hours required to earn PVSA awards in each age group, go to: https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/eligibility
- Stay tuned to EnE’s new website at: https://empowerexcel.org/
- Finally, if you sign up, please show up for your volunteering commitment.
by: Tanisha Tol
Now for a Sneak Peek into Our January 2020 Activities:
EnE’s Contribution to Various Shelters
- Meal Sponsorship to SNEHA RIDES Children Home for Kids affected by HIV:Sponsorship opportunities available to feed ~85 abandoned HIV positive children and orphans. Cost: $200 for full day meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), $80 for just Lunch or Dinner, $45 for breakfast. Sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090948afae2aaaf49-20201
- Meal Sponsorships to AshaJyothi, Shelter for Special Needs Kids: A BIG thank you to Giri Chodavarapu for sponsoring a full day meal during January. Sponsorship opportunities available to feed ~70 abandoned special needs children (Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Speech & Hearing Impaired, Polio, Down Syndrome etc.). Cost: $200 for full day meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), $80 for just Lunch or Dinner, $45 for breakfast. Signup at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090948afae2aaaf49-20199
- Education Sponsorship at Sneha RIDES: Sneha RIDES is a safe home for child beggars, HIV infected, abandoned/abused, exploited, street performers, rag pickers, and run aways. If you are interested to sponsor their education please check out the following. link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090948afae2aaaf49-sneha
- For sponsoring meals at these two centers, you can make payments at https://empowerexcel.org/donate/ or by mailing the check to: Empower and Excel, P.O. Box 21555, San Jose, CA, 95151 U. S. A or even by cash.
Serving at Shelters
- Volunteer with Sunday Friends: Our volunteers helped cook at an event for low-income families. They also helped out with various kid related activities. Keep up the hard work, volunteers!
- Cook and serve at Family Shelter in San Jose: Our volunteers cooked and served a delicious meal including chicken alfredo, veggie marinara, tomato-bell pepper soup, and dessert. It is amazing to see the dedication of our volunteers to serve those in need.
Connecting with our Community
- Cook and serve at JW House: Yet again, our volunteers delivered a successful cook and serve event at this home away from home for families facing medical crisis.
- Gateway Neighborhood Food Distribution: Kudos to volunteers for helping out at the food distribution. It is great to see the impact of their work in our community.
- Nursery Work:Our volunteers did an amazing job helping out at local nurseries. Keep up the great work, volunteers!
- Bay Area Performers Showcase @ Alum Rock Library:Our volunteers helped organize books at the library. They also organized flyers and assembled handouts for program guests. They worked as a group in the library’s back office in assembly line style.
Helping Our Seniors
- Music for Seniors: Our youth volunteers led by Tanisha Tol put up a wonderful ‘beginning of the year’ recital for our seniors at Westmont Community Center.
- Laundry Helpers: Our volunteers did an amazing job at Priya Living Retirement Community by helping seniors with their laundry chores.
- Tech Sessions: Our volunteers helped seniors with their technology issues around use of television, smart phones, laptops etc.
Bonding with our Special Friends
- Jeena Academics Program: Our volunteers helped 5-12 year old children with reading, writing, and math. They are truly making a positive difference in the lives of these kids by spending quality time with them. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090948afae2aaaf49-jeena3
- Robotics Program:Volunteers worked with special needs children on a one-on-one basis to help them on their weekly projects. For more information about this program, go to: https://education.lego.com/en-us/products/wedo-2-0-core-set-by-lego-education/45300
- For more information on Jeena, go to: Jeena.org
Yes! Kids can give back too…. Vibha celebrated her 10th birthday by involving her friends to do winter care packages for homeless. She made 40 packages and requested guests to buy winter gears instead of gift for herself. Package included gloves, socks, blanket, hat, scarf and hygiene stuff like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, brush, lotion and bag. This was most needed for homeless during harsh winter days.
E&E donated 300 hygiene kits to homeless.
