Volunteer Services
Be a Volunteer
We are predominantly a volunteer run organization and greatly depend on the generous love and support of our volunteer community to help us in many aspects of our beloved temple's activities.
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Please sign-up now to join our community of volunteers, so we can reach out to you when the need arises!
"
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
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- Mohandas Gandhi
PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD
The President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) is a prestigious national honor recognizing individuals and groups who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteer service. This award, bestowed by the President of the United States, is a testament to the invaluable contributions made by volunteers throughout the country.
We, the Hindu Society of Minnesota, are proud to recognize the dedication of our volunteers by nominating them for the PVSA. Volunteers' contributions to our community are invaluable.
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Use the following link to learn more about these awards: https://presidentialserviceawards.gov/
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Eligibility Requirements
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United States citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e., green card holder)
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Must be at least five years old
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Volunteering hours must be completed within a calendar year for annual Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards and over a lifetime for Lifetime Achievement Awards. ​​
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Volunteers applying for the award must be active members or Trustees of the Hindu Society of Minnesota or be affiliated with the organization through a parent or guardian who serves as a Trustee.​​​
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All volunteer hours submitted for this award must be logged in the HSMN PVSA application. While we accept external community service hours, at least 60% of your total hours must be completed volunteering with the Hindu Society of Minnesota (HSMN) and logged in to VolunteerMark. For any hours completed outside of HSMN, please provide signed verification documents.
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Join VolunteerMark, our Volunteer Management Software, to discover available opportunities and keep track of the time you donate."
Eligible Service:
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Unpaid acts of volunteer service benefitting others
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Service through National service programs that provide a stipend (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) may count towards the Lifetime Achievement Award, but not for the annual Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.​
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Travel stipends, transit/parking passes, membership passes, expense reimbursements, and other nominal volunteer support do not impact service eligibility
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Eligible Service does not include:
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Donating funds
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Political lobbying (Non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity)
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Religious instruction (Volunteer hours spent teaching Dharma or providing religious instructions will not be counted towards this award. However, hours spent teaching languages will be considered.)
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Conducting worship service
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Proselytizing
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Volunteer service performed as part of court-ordered community service
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Serving only family members
How to Apply:
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The application DEADLINE is 3:30pm on Monday, March 31, 2025. Late and incomplete applications will not be processed.
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Award Notification: Applicants who will be receiving the award will be notified by email in late April of 2025. Questions? Contact volunteer@hsmn.org