Our Story
Learn about the journey of ServingHandz, from our humble beginnings to our vision for the future. We're committed to making a positive impact in our communities through service and compassion.
Our Humble Beginnings
ServingHandz began its journey in early 2022 when two high school students, Gatik Ailwadi and Gaurav Vijay, were deeply moved by the growing homelessness crisis they witnessed in their community. What started as a simple conversation about wanting to make a difference quickly evolved into a vision for a student-led organization dedicated to supporting those in need.
In February 2022, they approached the Tracy Sri Sathya Baba Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting love, peace, and service to humanity. The foundation's leaders were impressed by the students' passion and commitment, offering to provide mentorship, guidance, and initial resources to help turn their vision into reality.
With the foundation's support, Gatik and Gaurav began recruiting fellow students who shared their passion for community service. By March 2022, they had assembled a core team of 15 dedicated volunteers from Central High School, each bringing unique skills and perspectives to the organization. Together, they formalized their mission: to support homeless individuals in local communities by providing essential supplies and resources while fostering compassion and unity.
In April 2022, ServingHandz launched its first official project – a donation drive that collected over 200 essential items for local shelters. The success of this initial effort not only provided immediate relief to those in need but also established the organization's presence in the community and demonstrated the impact that motivated students could achieve.
Our first ever used clothes-drive at the Tracy Sri Sathya Baba Foundation in 2022.
The Foundation Partnership
Tracy Sri Sathya Baba Foundation
The Tracy Sri Sathya Baba Foundation played a pivotal role in the establishment of ServingHandz. Founded on principles of selfless service (seva) and universal love, the foundation provided not just material support but also spiritual and philosophical guidance that shaped our core values.
Under their mentorship, we learned the importance of serving with love and without expectation, seeing the divine in every person we help. Their teachings on the five human values – Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love, and Non-violence – became integrated into our approach to community service.
The foundation's community center became our first headquarters, where we held meetings, organized donation drives, and coordinated volunteer efforts. Their established network in the community opened doors for partnerships with local shelters, schools, and businesses that would have taken years to develop on our own.
Early Milestones
The Spark
January 2022
Two high school students, Sai Harish Balamurugan and Gatik Ailawadi , witnessed homelessness in their community and were moved to action.
Foundation Partnership
February 2022
Partnership established with Tracy Sri Sathya Baba Foundation, providing mentorship and initial resources.
First Team Meeting
March 2022
Recruited 15 passionate student volunteers and held our first official team meeting to outline our mission.
Inaugural Project
April 2022
Launched our first donation drive, delivering 200+ PB & J sandwiches for local shelters while delivering them in-person.
Our Founding Team
ServingHandz was brought to life by these dedicated individuals who shared a vision of youth-led community service and worked tirelessly to establish our foundation.
Gatik Ailwadi
Co-Founder
Developed the initial vision and established community partnerships
Gaurav Vijay
Co-Founder
Created organizational structure and led first volunteer initiatives
Sai Harish Balamurugan
Founding Member
Coordinated volunteer recruitment and training programs
Aman Barma
Founding Member
Managed communications and outreach strategies
Early Challenges & Lessons
Finding Our Voice
As high school students, one of our biggest initial challenges was being taken seriously by established organizations and community leaders. We learned to leverage our unique perspective as youth and demonstrate our commitment through consistent, reliable service. Over time, our actions spoke louder than our age, and we earned respect through our dedication and results.
Balancing School and Service
Our founding team faced the constant challenge of balancing academic responsibilities with our commitment to ServingHandz. We developed systems for sharing responsibilities, established realistic timelines for projects, and learned to integrate our service work with school requirements when possible. This challenge taught us valuable lessons in time management and prioritization that continue to serve our organization.
Resource Limitations
With no initial funding beyond what the foundation could provide, we had to be creative and resourceful. We mastered the art of doing more with less – utilizing social media for free promotion, partnering with businesses for in-kind donations, and leveraging our school networks for volunteer recruitment. These early constraints fostered an innovation mindset that remains part of our organizational culture.
Understanding Community Needs
Perhaps our most profound early lesson was learning to listen before acting. Our initial assumptions about what homeless individuals needed were often incomplete or misguided. By engaging directly with those we aimed to serve and the organizations already working with them, we gained crucial insights that shaped our approach. This commitment to understanding before action has become a cornerstone of our methodology.
From Humble Beginnings to Growing Impact
By the end of 2022, what had started as a small initiative had grown into a structured organization with clear goals, established processes, and a growing reputation in the community. Word of our work spread to neighboring schools, and students began reaching out about starting their own chapters.
In early 2023, we formalized our chapter expansion process, providing resources and guidance for students at other schools to establish ServingHandz chapters. This marked our transition from a single-school club to a multi-chapter organization with a broader vision for impact.
Throughout this growth, we've remained true to our founding principles and the values instilled in us by the Tracy Sri Sathya Baba Foundation. While our reach has expanded and our programs have diversified, our core mission remains unchanged: to serve those in need with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Today, ServingHandz stands as a testament to what young people can achieve when empowered with purpose, guidance, and community support. Our humble beginnings taught us that meaningful change doesn't require vast resources or extensive experience – just a genuine desire to serve and the courage to take that first step.
Mission & Values
Our mission and values guide everything we do at ServingHandz.
Our Mission
"To support homeless individuals and underserved communities through compassionate service, essential resources, and youth-led initiatives that foster dignity, respect, and positive change."
Compassion
We approach our work with empathy and understanding, recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual we serve. Compassion guides our actions and decisions, ensuring we treat everyone with kindness and respect.
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Integrity
We uphold the highest standards of honesty and ethical conduct in all our actions. We are transparent in our operations and accountable to our community, partners, and those we serve.
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Collaboration
We believe in the power of working together. By partnering with other organizations, volunteers, and community members, we can achieve greater impact and create lasting change.
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Inclusivity
We embrace diversity and create an environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and respected. We recognize that diverse perspectives strengthen our organization and enhance our ability to serve.
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Innovation
We continuously seek new and better ways to address community needs. We encourage creative thinking and are willing to adapt our approaches to maximize our impact.
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Service
We are dedicated to serving others with humility and dedication. We recognize that true fulfillment comes from giving of ourselves to improve the lives of others.
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Our Journey
Follow the path of ServingHandz as we've grown and expanded our impact over the years.