High-school volunteers from Cherry Hill, Marlton, Moorestown, Mount Laurel and Medford joined the Sewa International South and Central New Jersey Chapter to donate thousands of treats brought earlier this month to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
The treats were collected from Nov. 1 through Veterans Day to support active service members stationed at or passing through the base. Sewa International is a humanitarian nonprofit that brings together teens of the Hindu faith who are inspired to make a positive impact on the world through community service.
Extending throughout both Burlington and Camden counties, with members hailing from several South Jersey towns, the local Sewa chapter also partners with neighboring chapters to make a larger impact. Treats for Troops combined the efforts of Sewa International volunteers representing four New Jersey chapters to collect nearly 5,200 pounds of candy in two weeks.
Kishore Palle, the South and Central New Jersey Chapter’s commissioner, is in his fourth year of leading a group that’s grown annually. He and the chapter’s volunteers were eager for a tangible way to say thank you to active service members.
“Knowing how much the troops do, I’ve always had a passion for supporting them,” Palle said. “They’re stationed so far away, and Treats for Troops helped us to connect with them so they know that we recognize and appreciate their service.”
Palle also explained that giving the sweets can provide troops a luxury they may not have overseas.
“Troops may not have all that we are able to enjoy here,” he noted. “So the idea is to do a candy collection and send it to the troops that are away from their families and don’t have the luxury of what we have over here.”
The nonprofit partnered with McGuire for the candy dropoff. The base returned the favor by giving each chapter member a wrist band.
Palle noted that Sewa International’s efforts are rooted in giving back to communities and improving people’s lives.
“Our bottom line is to make everyone’s life better by sharing what you can and spreading the good word across the board,” he said.
For more information on Sewa International, visit www.sewausa.
