Cart Bringing food and comfort to the homeless
04/13
Hari Rediawan, a TI product engineer, brings a volunteer team together once a month to provide meals to homeless children, veterans and the mentally ill in Silicon Valley, Calif.
TI employee Hari Rediawan has a passion for cooking as well as a commitment to helping homeless children, veterans and the mentally ill.
For the past 10 years, this product engineer working in Santa Clara, Calif. has brought his two passions together once a month by leading a team of volunteers that serve hot meals at InnVision Shelter Network (IVSN). IVSN is Silicon Valley's leading nonprofit provider of housing, shelter and services to the homeless.
The teams led by Hari purchase meats and vegetables, cook, and serve hot meals for 50 to 200 homeless people and families. With an average of 10 volunteers, the meals prepared by Hari and his team require four hours to complete from start to finish and call for approximately 480 volunteer hours annually from the team.
The effort also includes handling the finances for meal items purchased, organizing, scheduling and cleaning up after the meal has been served.
"We are so grateful for Hari's ongoing commitment and support," said Lourdes Pollard, InnVision Shelter Network's food service manager. "Hari and his team make a real difference in the lives of the people who come through our doors in need of comfort and a nutritious meal."
"Contrary to what it may seem, volunteering for me is not a one way street. Aside from learning to cook and handling the pressure of providing hot meals for clients, I mingle and listen to their life stories because they teach me valuable life lessons. These clients have been to rock bottom, as in physical abuse, drug addictions, mental illness or just plain having no money. I was surprised to learn some of them were high-tech engineers, aviation mechanics, accountants, etc. For me personally, I am learning to be thankful for the things that I have and I am glad that I can help introduce the younger generation to the importance of giving back to the community."
— Hari Rediawan
Promoting awareness
In addition to making the meal a reality, Hari promotes volunteering with the homeless by using a personal approach and through social media. To date, he has led more than 150 volunteers-from the age of 7 to 80 years old-to help the needy and to allow the volunteers to reflect on their own life's blessing.
Hari believes it's never too early or late for anyone to gain community service awareness, which is why he encourages volunteers of all ages to participate in the effort.
"Over the years, I've recruited co-workers, teenagers at school, friends and family to help serve at the shelter," Hari said. "Many of the high school students continue their community service even after exceeding their high school community service requirements."
