April 2020 – Newsletter
During these ‘stranger than fiction’ times of Covid-19 where uncertainty is the new certainty, there is one thing to be certain about – our MOTHER’S LOVE for us! Entering into the month of May when we celebrate our MOMS, we would like to express our deep gratitude and respect to all our MOMS who work unconditionally around the clock. With a smile on their face they keep us safe, feed us well, boost our morale, and help us stay the course even during these trying times. We love you MOMS and we pray for your health and happiness! A very happy Mother’s day to all the Moms!
May is also when we celebrate International Workers’ Day! Let’s take a moment to honor all the frontline workers including healthcare, law enforcement and emergency workers, grocers, truckers, farmers who relentlessly work to keep us safe and help continue our day-to-day lives.
Heartiest congratulations to our volunteers who qualified for the PVSA awards!
Finally, a BIG thank you to all our volunteers who are carrying forward the torch of EnE’s mission of serving the community in spite of the unsettling and challenging environment caused by the pandemic. Our volunteers are finding creative and innovative ways of contributing to the society. They are conducting online classes, making care packages, masks and baby blankets, to name a few.
Families impacted by the pandemic are struggling to feed their babies. Through the baby formula drive, we have served 125 families and 15 individuals so far. There is a dire need for baby formula. Please help out in whatever way you can!
We continue to shelter-in-place and in-person volunteering activities will resume only after we are out of the official lockdown. But then every dark cloud has a silver lining and our Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, is optimistic that we are only weeks away from a phased opening, if we continue to be prudent and thoughtful in following the social distancing. So let’s continue to do our part for our community by staying home, staying safe and keeping others safe!
Now for a few announcements and reminders:
- *NEW* Get to Know your Volunteers: We will feature a few volunteers each month in our newsletter. The intent is to get to know our volunteers better and bring our community closer. Common interests may surface among volunteers which could lead to future connections!
- Volunteer Appreciation Event: Since shelter-in-place has been extended till the end of May, we will reschedule this event once things return to normalcy.
- Mother’s Day Luncheon Saree Event has been cancelled. We will notify you if there are further updates.
- Recording Volunteer Hours: Continue to record your volunteer hours at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14aCCBe74pU2ZQP2gdxXMGD3m0-8tKklzazClDQaB2rA/edit Alternatively, you can record your volunteer hours in a google sheet and share it with us at: empowerandexcel.np@gmail.com.Please note April 2020 to Mar 2021 is year for PVSA hours consideration.
- Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA): To learn more about the hours required to earn PVSA awards in each age group, go to: https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/eligibility
- Shopping on Amazon: 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.
Some useful resources during Coronavirus (COVID-19):
- iGebra: Based on the requests from parents, iGebra is including free “Accelerated Math Exam Prep” considering the upcoming final exams in May. The emphasis is on brushing up the Math concepts for exams with visual interactive tools. Do encourage your kids to join and share the following link with your friends. The sessions start in the first week of May and you should have received invitations.
https://lnkd.in/eqv8j3R - Quest Diagnostics Launches Consumer-Initiated COVID-19 Antibody Test Through QuestDirect™: https://newsroom.questdiagnostics.com/2020-04-28-Quest-Diagnostics-Launches-Consumer-Initiated-COVID-19-Antibody-Test-Through-QuestDirect-TM
by: Tanisha Tol
Now for a Snapshot into our April 2020 Activities:
Volunteer of the month award goes to Sohini Pillay for initiating Blankies for Babies project. Her goal is to donate minimum 50 blankets by end of the year.
YaY!!! Time to Appreciate Our Volunteers as April is a HUGE month
- Get to Know Our Volunteers: Learn what inspires Ishan Juluri and Sasha Masson to volunteer!
- Final Approved PVSA Awardees: Heartiest congratulations to qualified PVSA volunteers and all the EnE volunteers for your commitments, passion, dedication and hard work. Keep up the great work!
- April is National Volunteer Month and April 7-13 Volunteer Appreciation Week. A Note of Appreciation from our CEO and Founder, Ayesha Charagulla to ALL our Volunteers: “Thank you for all you do! E&E wants to show sincere gratitude to all our volunteers for the valuable contributions you are making in our communities. The efforts of our volunteers and supporters inspire and provide hope to many people. That is why we felt it was so important to say “Thank You” to you and the parents who drive you around to your activities on time. Thank you for stepping up and giving back to others. These acts of service keep our communities strong, connect individuals, and provide critical support to the health and vitality of so many people. Never has this been more true than now, as our country faces the coronavirus pandemic. Though we are small we have amazing stories of you all finding ways to help one another especially in times of greatest need. 1. One mom contributed to support baby formula drive saying this is the money she saved not filling gas in March. 2. Volunteers doing house chores and haircuts to family members, and contributing from those earnings. 3. Teaching chess to others and contributing to support front-liners. 4. Initiating GoFundMe to support front-liners. 5. Reaching to Pediatricians. 6. Conducting classes for other volunteers to learn. 7. Making blankets, beanies and care packages. 8.Celebrating special days with meal sponsorships. 9. Two Families contributing $1500 to support shelter in India. 10. One family committing for 2020 meal sponsorships at one shelter. 11. Making masks and conducting sessions and sharing info to teach how to make masks. 12. Making cards for seniors. 13. One Family donating $5000 for KN95 masks. 14. Moms purchasing household essentials to support. 15. Boosting causes on FB, spreading in their communities and collecting for drive. 16. Donated 5000 + masks to Valley Medical Foundation with team members donation. 17. Volunteer initiative to honor Covid -19 Heroes. 20. Helping with transportation from east bay to south bay. 21. Mom donating sewing machine to make fabric masks and last but not least, want to thank ops team and their families for their unconditional support and commitment” – Ayesha Charagulla
- EnE is collecting baby formula and diapers to support low-income communities during COVID-19 crisis. So far we have served 125 families and 12 individuals.
- There is a huge need for these items among single moms and vulnerable families who have lost significant income due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please support EnE in whatever way you can to help us with this cause.
- Please check with your respective companies for matching contributions during the current COVID-19 situation.
- If you could reach out to pediatricians and private practitioners to donate free samples of baby formula, that would be of great help to our community.
- We are very proud of our volunteers Nihaar, Pranav, Kavya, Aditi, Ishan and Vibha for reaching out to pediatricians and collecting baby formula and diapers from them.
- We would like to thank each and every one who participated and wholeheartedly contributed to this drive: Dr. Shahida Mohammad, Evergreen Family Practice, V.K.Sachadeva and staff, Dr. Nigam, Evergreen Pediatrics (www.mybabydoctors.com), Dr Meena Sathappan, Aasha Pediatrics (www.aashapediatrics.com), Dr. Anita Juvvadi, Dr. Vijaya Jujare, www.viswasaidwarakami.org (for their monetary contributions), Purvi & Sanjeev Patel for responding to our call to action, Aneeja, Alpa, Geeta, Ramani, anonymous donors and many others who directly and indirectly supported this drive.
- With the help of Santa Clara county’s Neighborhood Safety Unit (NSU), we distributed baby formula to more than 120 families in Gilroy, CA. Thanks to our donors, volunteers, and NSU for making this possible. It was a very heartwarming experience to help these families. The demand was so huge that we ran out of formula within 20 minutes. We hope to have another drive to serve these families in the near future.
- Our baby formula and diaper drive was covered by ABC7 news channel. We would like to thank Amanda del Castillo and ABC7 for giving a boost to our drive. https://abc7news.com/empower-and-excel-baby-formula-donations-coronavirus-help-resources/6101541/?fbclid=IwAR1lXlsT1C26UnfxhOVhcfrU4A_4q3meEWxa7P-AfascQJrhrpx4iBDNqOY
- We were also on air for this drive with “The Martha Quinn Radio Show on iHeart 80s at 103.7”. Martha Quinn is an original MTV VJ. Martha Quinn #COVID #givingback #formula #diapers #iHeart80
Online Initiatives by Our Youth Volunteers
We are very proud of our youth volunteers who are working relentlessly to serve the community in spite of the uncertain times. Here are some of the activities that our enterprising youth volunteers have undertaken (If you are interested in any of these activities, please contact Ayesha directly):
- A Super Symphony Salute: An initiative led by Isita, she is calling all performers of the world to pay respect to our amazingly brave COVID-19 heroes with our talent. She is inviting all singers, dancers and performers to record a performance and share it with her at: isita.t@youth2world.org. She will then send it to COVID-19 heroes to spread some joy and hope in the world. http://youth2world.org
- Bollywood Dance Classes: Led by Srita and Vibha from EVHS, Sundays, 5-6 PM. They have conducted hip-hop dance fitness classes at Aborn Evergreen Branch Library which were highly enjoyed by the attendees.
- Keyboard Lessons: Arjun teaches keyboard to his specific friend.
- Piano Lessons: Led by Tanisha Tol, 1-on-1 lessons. Tanisha completed her final Piano Certificate of Merit Advanced Level Exam (CM 10) with Honors (91%). She was selected to perform at the 2019 Annual California State Convention of the Music Teachers’ Association of California®️, an honor awarded to top 3% performers in 2019. She was also selected for Music Teachers Association of California®️ Santa Clara Branch Honors recital in 2015 and 2019.
- Podcast on Working with Autistic Children: Preethi & Siri have undertaken this great initiative to build awareness and share their experience of working with autistic children. Both are sophomores at EVHS and became friends while volunteering in an area both are very passionate about. https://anchor.fm/narratewithneurate
- Python Sessions (Beginner to Intermediate Level): Led by Jonathan, Targeting 6-8th graders, No. of sessions: 10, Tuesdays 7-8 PM.
- Sketching Lessons: Led by Anoushka, 2 classes per week, Mondays and Thursdays, 4-5 pm, No Prior Experience Required, Material Needed: Non-mechanical Pencil, Eraser, and Drawing Paper. The course will include the basics of shading a three-dimensional figure and learning how to sketch realistic figures by observing shapes in objects given as a reference to draw.
- Spanish Classes (Beginner Level): Led by Kashvi, Wednesdays, 6-7 PM.
- Speech and Debate Classes: Led by Nihaar and Vibha. Debate by Nihaar: Mondays, 7-8 PM, Speech by Vibha: Fridays, 7-8 PM.
- Drawing session for special needs by Auoushka
- Read Along session for special needs by Siri and Praneeth
Donation of PPE (Gloves, Masks etc.)
- Gloves Donation: Because of our team member Kavitha’s very generous donation, we donated 5,000+ gloves to Valley Medical Foundation! A BIG Thank You!
- Anonymous donor contributed $5k towards KN95/N95 masks
- Aarav taught chess classes during spring break to raise funds for PPE and contributed through his parents company matching.
- Mask Making: Some of our volunteers have undertaken the initiative of making masks at home for donating to hospitals and those from low income communities. Thank you Dhanya, Naina, Priya Gundurao, Radhika, Siri, Sunitha Deepak, Tanisha Tol and all others who are directly or indirectly supporting this initiative. Thank you to Naina for hosting sessions to teach co-volunteers how to make a mask. If you are interested in making masks, here are a few links that you could use as a guideline:
- https://youtu.be/mqjlY0XjIZk
- https://www.nytimes.com/article/how-to-make-face-mask-coronavirus.html
- https://youtu.be/W6d3twpHwis
- https://youtu.be/oyPfWOnNWDw
Shelter in Place Didn’t Deter Our Dedicated Volunteers
- Care Packages for Families in Need: Our volunteers have been making food and care packages for families in need. Some of our volunteers are making school supply kits. During the month of Arpil, EnE donated 350+ packages to Sunday Friends. Thank you Anisha, Anoushka, Diya Hasteer, Maaya, Meha, Reeva, Ridhan, Riya, Tanisha Tol, Varun and all others who are helping make a difference in the lives of these people.
- Basic Household Essentials Drive: A BIG thank you to Bhanu Ravipatti, Arathi Rao, Preethi, Puneet, Madhu, Uma Balla, Sirisha, Valli Palepu and all others who supported this drive. Thank you to Dr. Freeman, Freeman Orthodontics for donation of dental supplies. Some of the items needed are laundry detergent, body soap, body lotion, shampoo, sanitary napkins, dish detergent, toothpaste, toothbrushes etc.
- Blankies for Babies: Sohini has been busy making beautiful blankies for babies in need. Kudos to your commitment, Sohini! If you are interested in making blankies, reach out to Ayesha. The material is available at affordable prices at www.yourfleece.com
- Knitting Beanies: Our volunteer from the East bay are working on knitting beanies during their free time to contribute to Mrudula’s Knitbuds project. Mrudula knits beanies for chemotherapy patients. Keep up the great work!
- Dallas Team: Our Dallas Volunteers made cards for seniors to make them feel loved and to boost their morale and spirits during these difficult times.
Sponsorship Opportunities at Shelters
- Meal Sponsorships to ASHAJYOTHI, Shelter for Special Needs Kids: Sponsorship opportunities available to feed ~70 abandoned special needs children (Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Speech & Hearing Impaired, Polio, Down Syndrome etc.). We are extremely happy to inform you that our anonymous generous donor is doing a “Meal to Meal” matching gift up to 150 meals. You are doubling up your contribution in helping to feed special needs children with nutritious food. Please block your dates and help us to make your contribution more impactful.
- A big thank you to: Rachana Cheruvu, Ramani Cheruvu, Santoshi Tirumala and Anonymous donor for sponsoring meals at ASHAJYOTHI during April 2020. 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/4090948afae2aaaf49-2020
- Payment Info: For sponsoring, you can make payments online at https://empowerexcel.org/donate/ or by mailing the check, payable to ‘Empower and Excel’ at: Empower and Excel, P.O. Box 21555, San Jose, CA, 95151 U. S. A or even by cash. Please note that online transaction fees are charged to E&E, so please include those fees as well. Please do company matching wherever possible. (Tax-id: 47-3656395)
