Chicago, USA: The North American Telugu Association (NATS), guided by the spirit of "Sevae Gamyam" (Service is Life), has taken a significant step towards helping those in need in Chicago. As part of their ongoing efforts to support the underprivileged, NATS Chicago organized a Winter Clothing Drive to provide warmth to those enduring the harsh winter months. Through this initiative, NATS collected sweaters, coats, and shoes for individuals facing the cold.
The goal of this drive is not only to provide essential winter wear but also to instill a sense of social responsibility in young participants. By involving students from an early age, NATS aims to nurture a spirit of giving and community service. The response was heartening, with generous donations pouring in from local members of the Chicago Telugu community, including sweaters, coats, and footwear.
Once the items were collected, NATS Chicago partnered with Goodwill in Aurora, Illinois, to distribute the donations. Goodwill has long been an ally in helping the homeless and less fortunate, especially during the winter season. NATS President Madan Pamulapati praised the children who took part in the drive and recognized the importance of such community efforts. Parents also expressed their gratitude, noting the positive influence the initiative had on their children’s understanding of service.
NATS Chairman Prashant Pinnamaneni highlighted the significance of this Winter Cloth Drive, particularly as it coincided with the Thanksgiving season. He commended the Chicago chapter’s efforts and extended his congratulations to the team for their success in organizing the drive.
The initiative was made possible through the diligent coordination of several NATS chapter coordinators, including Havela Maddela, Bindu Veedulamudi, Lakshmi Bojja, Roja Seelamsetty, Chandrima Dadi, Siripriya Bachu, Bharathi Kesanakurthi, Bharathi Putta, Sindhu Kanthamneni, Priyanka Ponnuru, Veera Thakkelapati, Anjaiah Vellore, and Easwar Vadlamannati. Special thanks are due to the dedicated volunteers who made this drive a success, including Sumathi Neppalali, Radha Pidikti, Bindu Balineni, Ram Kesanakurthy, Pandu Chengalashetty, Pradeep Bachu, Bala Vadlamannati, Veera Adimoolam, Rajesh Veedulamudi, Srikanth Bojja, Gopi Ulava, Giri Marini, Vinoth Kannan, and Aravind Koganti.
NATS Chicago also expressed its gratitude to the Board of Directors, Executive Committee members, and all those who supported the cause, including Srinivas Pidikti, R K Balineni, Harish Jammula, Emmanuel Neela, Kiran Mandadi, Ravi Tummala, Kishore Nare, Murali Medicharla, Rajesh Kandru, Murti Koppaka, Mahesh Kakarla, Srinivas Arasada, Srinivas Boppana, and Dr. Paul Devarapalli.
This Winter Cloth Drive not only provided much-needed warmth but also showcased the true spirit of community service, reflecting the values that NATS strives to uphold.
