Sacramento volunteer group gives back to homeless community on Christmas
SACRAMENTO — A 100% donation-based organization was out in the community giving back on Christmas Day.
Seva Selfless Service has been serving people in need for nearly 13 years. It started as a group of college students handing out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to those in need. Now, it's grown into a full-blown volunteer-based operation.
"It's fun," volunteer Jetender Johal said. "We have our music going we have our friends and family so it's fun, positive."
Johal added, "This is how I want to spend my Christmas morning — with my team of people with like-minded individuals and we're all pushing toward a common goal to help."
With 50 volunteers and a long line, people were able to get the help they needed on Christmas Day.
"All this — blankets and sleeping bags and clothes, food — we're set. God is good. God woke up out of there just helping everybody," said Christina Zimmermann, who received some of the donations.
Everything being given out was purchased solely by members of the community.
"All the donations are coming from people like you and me," Johal said. "There's no $10,000 or $100,000 donations or grants. It's just people chipping in 20 bucks out of their paycheck and it adds up."
Seva volunteers say the need has significantly grown ever since the pandemic.
"The line is just getting bigger and bigger. I'm thinking it will be about 300 to 400 people today," Johal said on Wednesday.
Seva Selfless Service is out helping people not just on Christmas but every Thursday, too.