Serving with Compassion: My Journey with Community Seva
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by Chitra Jayaraman, Community Seva Volunteer
I still remember in 2018 when I served a hot meal for the first time to someone experiencing homelessness. It was a cold morning in San Jose, and I stood behind a folding table, ladling steaming rice and curry into compostable trays. The man in front of me smiled, nodded, and said, “Thank you.” That moment changed me. I had come to volunteer thinking I was there to help others. But in that instant, little did I realize that I was being transformed.
My name is Chitra Jayaraman, and I’m part of Community Seva, a nonprofit organization based in the Bay Area that’s dedicated to serving our unhoused neighbors with dignity and compassion. Since our founding in 2013, we’ve served over 400,000 hot meals, distributed thousands of outdoor essentials, provided short-term housing, and mobilized more than 4,500 volunteers. But behind those numbers are stories of resilience, of heartbreak, and of hope.
A Crisis in Our Backyard: The Bay Area is often celebrated for its innovation and wealth, yet it’s also home to staggering inequality. In Santa Clara County alone, the 2025 Point-in-Time count found 10,711 people experiencing homelessness. That’s nearly 11,000 individuals without a stable place to sleep, shower, or feel safe.
And it’s not just housing. Food insecurity affects over 870,000 Bay Area residents, according to the Koret Foundation, a number that exceeds the population of San Francisco. These are working families, seniors, and children who go to bed hungry in one of the richest regions in the world.Why I Serve: As an Indian American, the values of seva, selfless service, were instilled in me from a young age. But it wasn’t until I saw the scale of suffering in my own community that I realized how urgent and necessary that service truly is.
At Community Seva, we don’t just hand out meals. We build relationships. We listen. We show up consistently. Whether it’s packing hygiene kits, distributing sleeping bags, or organizing shelter partnerships, every act is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves compassion. We collaborate with shelters, community centers, and advocacy groups across the Bay Area. Our programs are robust, and our volunteer base continues to grow.
One of the most powerful experiences I’ve had was when I was accompanying Nathan Ganeshan, the founder of Community Seva, to deliver hot meals to an encampment in Oakland. I met a woman named Maria who had lost her job and home during the pandemic. She told me, “You’re the first person who’s looked me in the eye in weeks and smiled.” Her eyes and her words stayed with me for a long time.
Community Seva’s Impact: Here is a brief overview of the organization’s achievements:
- Over 400,000 hot meals served
- Thousands of outdoor essentials distributed
- Short-term housing provided
- More than 4,500 volunteers mobilized
How You Can Help: If you’re moved by this mission, I invite you to join us. Whether it’s volunteering for a meal service, donating to the cause, or simply spreading the word, every action counts. More information at www.communityseva.org.
About the Author: Chitra Jayaraman is a volunteer, advocate, and Events Lead at Community Seva, a Bay Area nonprofit focused on serving the unhoused population. Passionate about social justice and community engagement, she believes in the power of compassion to drive meaningful change. A longtime resident of the Bay Area for over 27 years, Chitra is deeply rooted in the community she serves and is committed to uplifting those most in need through service and advocacy.
