Community Rallies for Successful Blood Donation Camp at AsaMai Temple

Left to Right Pradeep Tandon Media and Public Relations, Global President Mr. Gary S. Sikka, Vice Presidents Mr. Paul Bindra, Mr. Ravinder Narang, Sr. Vice President Mr. Mohinder Taneja, General Secretary Mr. VPS Sikka, Mr. Gobind Bhatija Advisory Board APS, and Asa Mai Temple, APS Vice President Jaspal Arora and Mr. Narang (AsaMai Temple).| Photo Credit: American Punjabi Society

Hicksville, NY – August 10, 2025 — The AsaMai Temple in Hicksville became a hub of generosity and compassion on Sunday as residents turned out in force for a blood donation camp that far exceeded expectations. The event, led by Ms. Navneet Sondhi, Chairperson of the APS Women’s Forum, and her dedicated team — Ms. Dilsheet Kaur, Shweta Malhotra, Priyanka Khanna, Binny Kaur, and Swati Anand — originally aimed to collect 25 units of blood. By the end of the day, nearly 50 successful donations were recorded, with more than 10 people turned away due to eligibility criteria and several others arriving after 4 p.m. unable to donate because of capacity limits.

The camp was organized in partnership with AsaMai Temple, New York Cancer and Blood Specialists, New York Blood Center, and AAPI-QLI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin – Queens & Long Island). Notable supporters included Dr. Devendra Srivastava, Dr. Abhay Malhotra, Dr. Sunil Mehra, Dr. Prabhu Mehta, Dr. Tarun Wasil (NY Cancer & Blood Specialists), and Mr. Gobind Bhateja (AsaMai Temple). Ms. Anju Kakkar of AsaMai Temple oversaw hospitality, ensuring tea, snacks, and lunch were served to all attendees.

APS Women’s Council Left to Right: Ms. Priyanka Khanna, Ms. Palwinder Bhatti, Ms. Bably Sikka, Ms. Navneet Sondhi Chair APS Women’s Council , Ms. Dilsheet Kaur, Ms. Binny Kaur, Ms. Swati Anand | Photo Credit: American Punjabi Society

The American Punjabi Society (APS) provided strong support, with participation from Mr. Gary S. Sikka (Founder & Global President), Mr. Mohinder S. Taneja (Senior Vice President), Mr. Varinder S. Sikka (General Secretary), and Vice Presidents Mr. Paul Bindra, Mr. Ajai Vir Sondhi, Mr. Rajinder Narang, and Mr. Jaspal S. Arora, along with Pradeep Tandon (Director of Media & Public Relations) and Mr. Mohinder S. Chandok. APS Youth Director Ms. Janessa Sondhi and volunteers Alissa Sondhi, Radhika Sardana, Bhavi Khanna, Mahi Anand, and Ms. Palwinder Bhatti managed registration and logistics with efficiency.

Setting an example, Gary S. Sikka and Ajai Vir Sondhi were the first to roll up their sleeves and donate blood. Speaking about the overwhelming turnout, Navneet Sondhi said, “It is heartwarming to see our community respond so strongly to a humanitarian cause. Every donor here has made a difference today, and when we work together, we can create real and lasting impact.”

Mr Deepak Dhiman Jus Punjabi donated Blood | Photo Credit: American Punjabi Society

Gary S. Sikka praised the event as “a shining example of how partnerships between community organizations can save lives,” commending Navneet’s tireless commitment and compassion. Mr. Gobind Bhateja emphasized the temple’s mission of service, stating, “Serving the community is at the heart of our mission, and it was an honor to open our doors for such a noble cause.” Dr. Tarun Wasil underscored the importance of such initiatives, noting, “Blood is a precious resource, and today’s efforts will directly help patients in need.”

With the success of this camp, the APS Women’s Forum, AsaMai Temple, and their partners have pledged to organize more health-focused initiatives in the future, aiming to strengthen community bonds while promoting compassion, service, and well-being.