Young HHS volunteers receive 2023 Service Above Self MLK Youth Leadership Award

In a 1968 sermon, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."

The youth of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, USA, drew inspiration from this quote and were the "drum majors" for selfless service and giving back to the community of Aurora and Naperville with their time, talent and hearts.

During the 38th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Commemoration on Jan. 16, the youth of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, USA, received the "Service Above Self MLK Youth Leadership Award" from Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin.

This award was given to youth groups and youth leaders for their community service. HSS Youth received this award for their selfless and successful efforts to conduct food drives, highway cleanup, cultural education and, honoring of school teachers and first responders, and other service activities in 2022.

In November, the youth helped in collecting and donating thousands of pounds of foods to Aurora food pantries as part of annual Sewa Diwali food drive.

Four times a year, the youth help cleaning highways in Aurora and surroundings as part of DuPage County's Adopt-a-Highway program.

In April, the HSS youth educated Aurora communities about Hindu civilization through a traveling poster exhibition at the Fox Valley Mall in Aurora.

Youths of HSS Aurora appreciated first responders and their school teachers in their annual events.

Since its inception in 1989, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, USA, has focused on inculcating its members to practice universal values of Hinduism, such as humanity, equality, inclusivity, and serving the needy in the community they belong to. Over the years, HSS, through its local chapters and members, has worked for society by conducting food drives, cleanup projects, health awareness events, tutoring, and helping people during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA is a volunteer-based, nonprofit, social, educational and cultural organization that aims to coordinate the Hindu American community to practice, preserve, and advance ideals and values of Hindu Dharma.