Hindu American Community Service Inc.

The Need for a community Service Organization Hindu Americans in Washington Area have always been generous in supporting worthwhile causes to help the needy families, but until recently, The bulk of their philanthropy was directed to educational and social welfare activities in India. However, there is a clear sign that members of the community are now increasingly taking interest in local community service activities such as feeding the needy, assisting the elderly and mentoring children from inner cities.The economic downturn in 2007-2009 led to a dramatic increase in the number of unemployed, accentuating the need for such welfare services. A few Hindu-American community organizations in the Washington area started pondering how best to organize themselves to provide such services. The arrival of 1750 Hindu refugees from Bhutan around the same time gave urgency for the formation of HACSI. HACSI was formally incorporated in 2009 in the state of Maryland.

HACSI’s mission is to facilitate Hindu Americans to provide, charitable, educational and relief services to the community, mainly in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area. HACSI partners with 40 community organizations, providing financial support and volunteers and direct assistance when needed. HASCI is involved in many local projects like food for the needy, assistance to families, in distress, health fairs, and education. Recently, HACSI promptly responded to COVID relief efforts both in the DMV area and in India providing food, medical supplies, volunteers and financial assistance in collaboration with partner organizations. During the last 12 years of existence, HACSI achieved an impressive expansion of its activities. It brought together 1500 volunteers from 40+ organizations/groups such as Hindu Temples, Social and Cultural Organizations and Religious groups to deliver community services. Every year new volunteers and groups are joining HACSI in providing food for the needy which has expanded beyond DC Central Kitchen to Montgomery County, MD and Fairfax County, Virginia. It has partnered with six HELP organizations in Montgomery County and has contributed canned foods and financial help on a regular basis. Grants to the six Montgomery County HELPS provided assistance for prescription drugs, transport for doctor or hospital visits, payments to utilities to prevent disconnection due to default, and payment of rent in arrears to prevent eviction. HACSI is taking an active role in helping Hindu families in distress through its Benevolent Fund for those facing unexpected illness and loss of employment. It has provided both financial assistance and guidance to families in distress. HACSI’s contribution to COVID relief in the DMV area and India has been timely and effective. It is partnering with local organizations to deliver monetary aid, medical supplies and food for needy families, here and in India, during the COVID pandemic. HACSI was engaged in the rehabilitation and welfare efforts of Bhutanese refugees, in its earlier years, by guiding them in education, health and employment. Other projects were inter-faith educational initiative, assistance to a project for digitization of out-of-print Indology manuscripts in India, assistance to keep Hindu soldiers in the US Armed Forces with their Hindu heritage - Can we provide a better description of what was provided. Such assistance may be revived when needed.