BAPS Charities organizes a wide range of community service initiatives that support local communities across North America. These efforts reflect BAPS Charities’ ongoing commitment to service and its partnerships with local organizations to create meaningful impact.
During the fall and winter holiday season, BAPS Charities volunteers organized initiatives to support families and individuals in need, including food drives, coat drives, flu vaccination clinics, toy drives, and school supply drives. Each effort provided practical support while also strengthening unity and compassion among volunteers and community members. Across North America, these projects were tailored to address the unique needs of local communities.
Food insecurity remains a serious challenge for millions of households in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that 13.5% of U.S. households—about 18.0 million—experienced food insecurity in 2023, an increase from 12.8% (17.0 million) in 2022. Children are affected at especially concerning levels, with estimates showing that about 13.8 million children lived in food-insecure households in 2023. The USDA defines food insecurity as limited or uncertain access to enough food for an active, healthy life.
In the Greater Washington, D.C. region, BAPS Charities in Beltsville, Maryland, organized a food drive from October to December 2025 to support local families experiencing food insecurity during the holiday season. Through the combined efforts of volunteers and community members, a total of 767 lb food items were collected during the drive.
The collected items were donated to So What Else, a nonprofit organization based in Bethesda that works to address food insecurity and support underserved communities across the region. In addition to the donation, BAPS Charities volunteers also served on-site at the organization, assisting with food distribution efforts.
Julie Yang, Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education member and candidate for Montgomery County Council in District 1, joined BAPS Charities volunteers during the service activity at So What Else and commended the initiative.
“It was inspiring to volunteer alongside BAPS Charities at So What Else this morning,” said Ms. Yang. “Their generous donation of 700 pounds of food will make a real difference for families in our community, and it’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when compassion and action come together.”
BAPS Charities continues to support local organizations and communities through initiatives that address essential needs and strengthen community partnerships.
