For over 8 years UT Austin students with Seva Charities have worked tirelessly to help provide mid-day meals to children in India, ensuring they can stay in school instead working for their next meal.

Seva Charities is a volunteer group comprised solely of students who attend the University of Texas, Austin. Their primary mission is to raise money through Akshaya Patra, an organization that provides mid-day meals to children in India which gives them the opportunity to get an education, rather than working for their food.

Seva Charities hosts various fundraising events throughout the year to support Akshaya Patra. This year, they held a Seva Olympics, sold and delivered Potatograms on Valentine’s Day, and hosted an escape room event. Their biggest fundraising event of the year is Saanj, a South Asian gala – attendees at this ticketed event enjoy Indian food, performances by UT’s dance and acapella teams, and dress in traditional Indian attire. This past year alone they raised $13,000 for Akshaya Patra.

In addition to fundraising for Akshaya Patra, Seva Charities partners with local events and organizations to provide volunteer help as needed in our community. They have worked with the Austin Marathon, Austin Parks Foundation, Kayak Clean-ups, Ronald McDonald House of Central Texas, several elementary school fairs, and multiple food banks. In addition to their work in the community, they also offer on-campus volunteer opportunities for members such as making blankets for Project Linus, paracords for Operation Gratitude, felt plushies for foster children, and ornaments and bracelets for Dell Medical Children’s Hospital.

Seva Charities not only provides meals, volunteer help, and resources to so many others, it’s also a great way for students to connect and form life-long friendships. “Everyone in this organization is very close!” says Anvita Bhatt, VP of Events and Philanthropy. “We enjoy planning the events and bonding with each other as we work to make a difference. Not only does our work make an impact locally and globally, but it also brings us closer together. Everyone that’s a part of this organization works with a passion and we truly enjoy the work we do.”