The Seva Collective: One Community for Our Community

One small idea of the community became one of the most successful food pantry services in Southern California. This thought is the reality of the Seva Collective food pantry in Santa Ana, California. 

They began in one of the most stressful times on the planet, the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting with only a couple of volunteers and recipients, the Seva group has become something outstanding. With over four million meals in only four years and around 60,000 pounds of food to 1,6000 families a month, Seva has transformed. The main goal of the Seva Collective is to source healthy and fresh food for the recipients. 

One of the most substantial issues facing low-income individuals is the lack of fresh produce. The influence of processed high-fat foods is massive in low-income communities, and lifelong medical conditions can arise. Solving this problem with a balanced meal is Seva's masterpiece. 

One of the co-founders, Bandana Singh, has recently talked about her inspiration for the collective. Her inspiration was from her religion, Sikh, and the morals sewn into it. In the Sikh faith, the name "Seva" comes from the beliefs surrounding selfless service. Even their slogan, "Sarhbat da Bahalla," is derived from a prayer that all humanity should thrive and prosper. 

The Seva Collective has done incredible things for the community, yet it could not have done those things without the massive collection of volunteers. Sometimes, there are limitations for young adults and teens, but not in the Seva community. Incredibly, half of the volunteers who work with Seva are young people. With the rise of young people volunteering, Seva is beginning a Youth Leadership Program. The goal of the program is to educate young people on ways to continue their leadership into adulthood. 

Seva has created a community of unique people who have come together for one vision. Starting as a small idea and shaping it into a community network, the Seva Collective has proven to be a hope in Santa Ana. (Written on December 1, 2024)