On February 18, 2017, 10 members of the Sathya Sai Centre of Edmonton came together to serve 120 meals to inner city senior citizens. The volunteers made sandwiches and soup and provided the seniors with milk and dessert as well. This service takes place every second Saturday of each month and on special occasions such as Bhagawan’s birthday. The Edmonton Sai Centre has been offering this service activity consistently and lovingly for over 30 years and has been conducting this activity through the Operation Friendship Seniors Society (OFSS) for well over 20 years.

Sai volunteers take all the food supplies required to the OFSS and make the sandwiches and soup on location after which they serve the seniors themselves. Upon completion of preparing meals, Brahmaarpanam is chanted before serving the meals to the seniors.

The volunteers prepare these meals with such joy and love. The service they provide brings out the best in them and the community. One of the greatest feelings in serving these is seniors is the appreciation that they show the Sai volunteers. Many of them thank the volunteers and carry on with their day. That itself brings bliss to the volunteers.

Reflections by Volunteers

Those that have been engaging in Operation Friendship all share the view that it is important to help in whatever way we can. Operation Friendship is one way in which the Edmonton Sai Centre offers help to better the community. Below are comments from Sai volunteers.

I know what it is like to be less fortunate and it’s important to give back. I strongly believe that “hands that help are holier than lips that pray.” Kamla Pillay

Service is satisfaction, seeing a smile on those receiving service is satisfaction.
Chellamma Nareshwar

I do Seva for Sai. “Service to man is service to God.” Shiva Ganesh Lingam

Additional Information

Operation Friendship is an ongoing activity at the Sathya Sai Centre of Edmonton. For more information click on the links below:

Edmonton Sai Centre Website: http://www.saibabacentre-edmonton.ca/

Operation Friendship Senior Society Website: http://www.ofss.org/

Edmonton Sai Centre Email Address: saicenteredmonton@telus.net