FIA Chairman Mr. Sunil Shah, President Mrs. Richa Chand alongside the FIA team at FMSC Facility
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) began 2026 with a strong message of service and compassion, packing nearly 35,000 meals for children in need at the Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) facility in Schaumburg.
Nearly 100 FIA volunteers, led by Founder and Chairman Sunil Shah and President Richa Chand, gathered at the nonprofit’s warehouse to turn empathy into action. By the end of the session, the team had packed 162 boxes totaling 34,992 meals, enough to feed children across the globe through FMSC’s humanitarian partners. The effort represented $10,147.68 worth of food aid.
FIA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and one of the Midwest’s largest Indian American organizations, representing more than 300,000 Asian Indians. The organization serves as a bridge between the local community, the United States and India, focusing on cultural connection, civic engagement and service.
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Quoting Sir Winston Churchill’s words, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” FIA leaders said the volunteer event embodied the organization’s mission. The reality of global hunger remains urgent: More than 821 million people worldwide lack enough food, and thousands of children die daily from starvation-related causes.
At the Schaumburg facility, volunteers worked side by side in an energetic, coordinated effort — measuring ingredients, sealing and labeling packages, stacking boxes and moving supplies through the warehouse. Youth volunteers handled much of the heavy lifting, while senior members labeled nearly 2,000 packages.
Although several other organizations volunteered during the same shift, FIA was the largest group in attendance.
“This was more than just packing meals,” FIA leaders said. “Every packet was filled with hope, care and the belief that together we can make a difference.”
Chand led the effort on site, coordinating logistics and motivating volunteers throughout the day. FIA General Secretaries Kamlesh Kapoor and Anshul Bindal were recognized for their organizational support. Several board members and directors, including Rajesh Narayan, Cecil Joseph, Subhash Iyer and R.V. Reddy, traveled from across the region to participate.
The event was documented by members of the FIA leadership team, including Executive Vice President Ajanta Talukdar and several vice presidents and secretaries who also assisted with operations and event management.
The service project marked the official launch of FIA’s 2026 calendar of events. The organization’s next major milestone will be its signature celebration of India’s 77th Republic Day, scheduled for Jan. 22, 2026.
More information about FIA is available at www.fia-il.us. Details about Feed My Starving Children can be found at www.fmsc.org.