Another month and a ton of activity from the community. Please enjoy the pictures and look forward to more participation from everyone. 

This Saturday 9/14 is our Annual Day Picnic. Look forward to seeing you all.

1. VSF annual day picnic
2. Vinayaka making workshop
3. Mirchi Bajji fundraiser in East Bay
4. Sevathon.         
5. Vinayaka Chaviti celebrations submitted by readers
6. Readers Corner by Vennela
7. Community Outreach 
8. Vasavi Ammavaru Alamkaram during Navarathri

1. VSF Annual Day picnic
Look forward to seeing you all on  September 14th at 
VSF Annual Day Picnic.
11:00 am to 5:00pm
Agenda:
Registration opens 11:00am.
(Keep your paypal receipt handy.)
Lunch & Indoor: 11:30am - 1:30pm
Raffle every hour starting 12:30pm
Games on the greens, 1:30 - 4:00pm
Snacks - 3.30pm - 4.00pm
Bingo 4.00pm

Food, Fun, Games and hangout and make friends,

Where:
Thomas S. Hart Middle school,
4433 Willow Road, Pleasanton CA 94588

Details in this link https://www.vsfbayarea.org/vsf-day-2019
Please bring cash for Raffle/Bingo tickets.


2. Vinayaka making workshop
This was our first Vinayaka idol making workshop. It was held in Milpitas before Vinayaka Chavithi. The duo of Vish Raja and Balaji Raj came up with this concept and executed it, all in the span of a week. They combined many aspects like being Eco friendly, community spirit, fun and last but not the least Spirituality to make this workshop rememberable. The Vinayakas were made of water soluble clay. 
 
We had quite a few participants and their passion shows in the pictures. Look forward to more of such events.



3. Mirchi Bajji fun(d)raiser in East Bay
Our dynamic Mallik Namburi, Ramesh Munaga, Ramesh Gaddamsetti, Srini Vinnakota, Murthy Juluri, Krishna Palavadi and many of the east bay folks hosted a Mirchi Bajji Fun(d)raiser for the Picnic. We had over 50 folks come and generated awareness about the picnic.



4. Sevathon

Fitness is always on our community members minds. It shows from our turnout at the Sevathon 2019.  This event is fitness with a cause and that makes it better as it is in our DNA to help everyone.



5. Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations submitted by readers


6. Readers Corner by Vennela

Right as I was about to doze off, the plane halted to a stop at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. As everyone got off the plane, a couple air hostesses struck up a conversation with me. Why was I here and why was I traveling alone? 

I then began to explain the whole story. 

“Amma, did you book my ticket yet?” I eagerly asked daily at the dinner table. Knowing the answer would be a no as usual, my smile quickly turned into a frown, but not for long…

It was officially confirmed that for the first time in my life, I would be traveling alone across the world to the busy bustling city of Hyderabad in India! 

Over the coming weeks, I attempted to control the happiness inside of me, but there was too much filled that I couldn’t even hold it in. I had a countdown on my calendar, I reminded my parents everyday, partly because I wanted to annoy them, and everytime I talked to my grandparents, I’d remind them that their favorite granddaughter was coming to visit soon! Days went by slower and slower as I eagerly waited for June 12th. And after the longest months of my life, the day had finally come. 

That day was crazy. I can almost remember every small detail about the day, as it was one of the most exciting times of my life. See, at the airport, most children would turn back to at least hug their parents and maybe even cry a few tears, realizing the fact they’re gonna be away from their parents for more than a month. But I’m not like that. I was so elated my parents thought of me as an independent woman who could travel alone and take care of herself. I didn’t even turn back. My mom tried to get my attention and blew me a kiss, but I did not turn around. I looked straight ahead into the wonderful adventure that was planned for me. 

-Vennela (middle schooler)

7. Community Outreach Activities



28th July - Lunch Seva at Abode Service Homeless Shelter, Fremont. Prepared food for about 60-70 people. Also, Kids above age 10 participated with great enthusiasm.
3rd Aug – VSF team helped in Back to school shopping for needs kids sponsored by West Valley Community Services.
10^th Aug – Food sorting at Second Harvest Food Bank. VSF team has sorted about 10 K pounds of fruits and vegetables, which will further be distributed to the needed people by 2^nd Harvest Food bank.
24th Aug - Lunch Seva at Abode Service Homeless Shelter, Fremont. Prepared food for about  60-70 people. Also, Kids above age 10 participated with great enthusiasm.
31st Aug  - Lunch Seva at Julian Shelter, San Jose.

Some of the events (for adults and kids) that we are planning for the coming months are the following:
 
Local:

1. Homeless shelter  – Recurring event 
2. Second harvest (San Jose, San Carlos) 
3. Volunteer  at local community charities bringing awareness to local plight and homeless,
4. Habitat for Humanity
5. Get involved with local parks in helping beautify and at the same time interacting with the Rangers and learning about the environment and ecology. Dates will be posted on a regular basis.
6. Local neighborhood team based charity events involving kids.

With the above events, we can make a difference to the environment, homeless, help the hungry and assist families to path of self-sustainment on an going basis. 
 
We would also like to solicit your opinion on some of the activities that you would like us to incorporate or consider on an ongoing basis. Please provide your opinion in this google form.
https://forms.gle/ZCNMAk88bxEV7Rq39

8. Vasavi Ammavaru Alamkaram during Navarathri

During Navarathri at VEDA temple we have one day where the Alamkaram  is Vasavi Ammavari. Please stay tuned for more details on the date. We look forward to seeing everyone on that day and also during the Navarathri celebrations.

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Please visit https://www.vsfbayarea.org for more information regarding VSF.

Link to all the VSF groups  https://tinyurl.com/yyzds4dc

Link to useful information from VSF members: https://tinyurl.com/y29qtscf