Blind Sticks Donation - Shree Veereshwara Punyashrama, Gadag

Jul 24

Blind Sticks Donation – Shree Veereshwara Punyashrama, Gadag

27th May 2018, SUNDAY

Caring for the needy around us

Today, on this day, if I just say “Truly Humbled”, it will be a small word. The whole experience was much more than that and very valuable one in my life!

“Giving is not about just making a Donation… It is about making a Difference”

Such is the spirit of our UKSL Trust.

We had organized a one day event for donating Walking Sticks for the visually impaired students of Shree Veereshwara Punyashrama, Gadag on 27th May 2018.

UKSL Trust members who attended the event:

 Gangadhar Wali – President
 Veena H – Vice President
 Girish Metgudmath – Trustee
 Bharati Metgudmath
 Nidhi Manjunath
 Ishwar Patil
 Raju Hombannavar

Some of the Background work done…..

We are very thankful to our President Mr. Gangadhar Wali and Ishwar Patil, for having visited the Punyashram few months back to study the requirement of the students. They directly interacted with the students to understand their requirements. The students mentioned about need for good quality Walking Sticks with Marker and they would be helpful.

These inputs were discussed in detail within the trust, we decided to donate around 70 sticks in 2 different sizes. An order was placed by one more trustee Mr.Deepak Alur to deliver these walking sticks. We again thank all the people, involved directly or indirectly in getting these sticks delivered quickly.

On the day of visit:

All of us drove from Bangalore to Gadag, on 27th May 2018, Sunday and arrived at the Asharam.

One of our young and enthuasitic Life Members Ms. Nidhi Manjunath sponsored for the Lunch Program for the day, from her first remuneration she received after her higher studies. It is a humbling experience, to see the Next-Gen of our UKSL, already showing an attitude of sharing and caring and coming forward to serve the society.

At the dining hall, it was great to see every student walking around and having lunch with us. Initial Prayers with Ararti and songs were rendered by these wonderful souls, and the lunch was served. The students entered and left the hall, in a neatly systematic way, without creating any chaos or ruckus. It left us wondering, and questioning, “Are they even Blind..?” They say, When God takes off one of our senses, he fills us with other senses in abundance. And we were witnessing the same, by looking at these well behaved students here.

A very delicious North Karnataka lunch with mouthwatering sweet Godi-Huggi was served. Needless to say, we all enjoyed this experience of being with students and having lunch with them in the most divine venue.

There was a quick gathering organized immediately after lunch. As usual these disciplined inmates of Punyashram, got into their respective place without much delay.

This session began with an initial introduction of UKSL Trust and its achievements so far and a small speech by President Mr. Gangadhar Wali. Each of the students was presented with a new walking stick donated by UKSL Trust.

It was a divine experience to see their happy faces brimming with smiles. The students thanked each of us personally at the end with some of them sharing their future plans and requirements. There were few students who were yet to return from their holidays. We discussed and it was decided to distribute the remaining sticks after they return.

Key take ways from the event:

We realized when we say Social Service, there is tendency to think that we just need to donate some money and it will be taken care.

But here, we could witness, more than money, these people were looking for our presence, time and were eager to listen and share our experience with us. There was so much we could do here to make their lives even better.

We also learned, we can never give more than we could take from there. The Experience of being with them and spending the day, in the midst of them, made our heart filled with gratitude and satisfaction.

We felt, instead of them thanking us, it is we, who have to be grateful for giving us an opportunity to know and be with them.

I always thank Uttara Karnataka Snehaloka (UKSL) Trust ®, Bengaluru for giving us this such rich and enlightening experiences from time to time. I am looking forward for more of such social events.

UKSL Trust, Bangalore thanks all the donors and members who helped directly or indirectly for organizing this event and making it a great success. We also thank the Dasoha Samiti of Punyashrama for their whole hearted support in organizing this event.