the resolution to honor HSNEF by City Council

A RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMMENDING THE HINDU SOCIETY OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA ON ITS HISTORY OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITY CAUSES AND HELPING TO IMPROVE THE JACKSONVILLE COMMUNITY;
MAY 22 2018

The Hindu Society of North East Florida was incorporated in October 1989 to pursue the construction of a Hindu temple to serve the religious and social needs of the Hindu community in Northeast Florida; and the congregation was formed in 1991 and met first at the Jewish Community Alliance in Mandarin and then at its own temple in Orange Park for 13 years before the current temple on Greenland Road was opened with great ceremony in March 2007; and throughout its history the Hindu Society of NorthEast Florida has been a vigorous and active participant in community service and improvement causes. Many of the members of Indo American Medical Association have volunteered their time and talent to conduct Free Health Fairs on the temple premises and also at Mandarin High school. The society has also raised donations of money and needed supplies in response to natural disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Irma and is planning a fundraiser event to benefit the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, the Hindu Society’s very active youth group, The Ripples, is engaged in a variety of community assistance programs, including volunteering at Daniel Kids to interact with at-risk youth to provide positive influence and role modeling, staffing a water station on the Hart Bridge for the Gate River Run, and working at BEAM’s (Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry) community garden that raises food for food pantries to feed the hungry; and
WHEREAS, the Hindu Society is also an active participant in interfaith organizations for cultural exchange and the promotion of religious harmony, all for the betterment of the community at large; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville:
Section 1. The City of Jacksonville hereby honors and commends the Hindu Society of North East Florida on its history of supporting community causes and putting faith to work to improve the lives of those in the Jacksonville community. The City of Jacksonville is blessed to have a vibrant and diverse faith community, the members of which devote tremendous amounts of time, talent and treasure to the betterment of all aspects of our city.