Eid al-Adha Service Day 2025

On June 7, 2025 BAYCC and Pacifica Institute co-organized a meaningful Eid al-Adha celebration that brought together hundreds of neighbors, volunteers, and community partners. The event combined cultural celebration with hands-on service activities, showcasing the true values of Eid — generosity, gratitude, and community connection. The event welcomed more than 150 guests, including families, friends, youth, and children. Over the course of three hours, participants enjoyed a shared lunch, engaged in impactful service projects, and reflected on the power of giving.

“Today’s event was deeply inspired by three core values of the Hizmet Movement: respect for human beings, civic engagement and contribution to society, and the empowerment of women. Behind the scenes, it was the unsung heroes—especially the dedicated women in our community—who made this day one to remember through their compassion, service, and spirit of sharing. I sincerely congratulate every member of the organizing committee for their leadership in launching what we hope will become a lasting Eid al-Adha tradition: celebrating by serving others.”

— Event Coordinator

	Impact Highlights About 250 hygiene kits and 40 meal packages were assembled and donated, serving: Unhoused neighbors Families in shelters Children decorated paper bags for unhoused neighbors, wrote care cards for children in hospitals and seniors in care homes 15 duffle bags were packed for children attending summer camps through Family Supportive Housing Around 50 pair of jeans were collected through our Warm in Blue drive and donated to Agape Silicon Valley to be distributed to unhoused neighbors More than 30 youth and children took part in hands-on volunteering A shared meal was enjoyed by over 150 attendees, featuring traditional Turkish dishes A final group photo and impact reflection helped close the day with a sense of accomplishment and unity
Program Activities The event began with a warm welcome and a shared community lunch.  During lunchtime, children received special Eid gifts prepared by volunteers. These thoughtful gift bags included sweet treats, snacks, and traditional delights, bringing smiles and excitement to our youngest guests. The act of giving to children captured the spirit of Bayramlaşma — the joyful exchange of kindness and generosity that defines Eid. For many kids, this moment became a highlight of the day and a memory to cherish.
	Welcome Remarks Lunch was followed by welcome remarks.  BayCC Executive Director Yusuf Ozgen shared a heartfelt message with the community: “Let today be a day of joy, kindness, and connection. May it be the beginning of many more shared moments.” His words reflected the spirit of the day — one rooted in service, hospitality, and togetherness. The event not only celebrated Eid, but also laid the foundation for deeper community bonds and a shared commitment to giving back.
Service Stations Guests then joined one of several service stations, including: Packing food relief bags with Turkish meal staples Assembling hygiene kits for unhoused neighbors Preparing snack and canned food packs for street outreach Packing summer camp duffle bags for children Sorting donated jeans for unhoused neighbors The event also featured Turkish music and reflections from participants and nonprofit leaders.
	Empowering Teens: Summer Camp Kits for Family Supportive Housing One of the most meaningful service activities of the day was the preparation and packing of summer camp kits for 15 teenagers supported by Family Supportive Housing. Volunteers carefully packed each duffle bag with summer essentials — including towels, hygiene supplies, water bottles, flashlights, notebooks, and personalized notes of encouragement. These thoughtful kits will help teens feel prepared, valued, and supported as they embark on their summer camp experiences. This activity reminded us all that small acts of care can open doors to confidence, growth, and joyful memories for youth facing serious challenges.

Your generosity provided children experiencing homelessness with essentials for camp, bringing joy to the kids and peace of mind to their families. Thanks to BAYCC, they arrived confident and ready to make lasting memories and enjoy a true summer experience.

— Family Supportive Housing

Lemonade, Kindness, and the Spirit of Giving At the Service Fest, one moment reminded us all why we do this work—not through a planned activity, but through the spontaneous generosity of two young participants. Zeynep, one of the youngest members of our community, teamed up with her classmate to run a lemonade stand at the event. Together, they raised $85 by offering ice-cold lemonade to fellow attendees throughout the day. But it wasn’t just about the lemonade—it was about the heart behind it. At the end of the festival, Zeynep and her friend chose to donate all their earnings to support our unhoused neighbors. Their simple yet powerful act embodied the true spirit of Eid al-Adha and perfectly captured the purpose of Service Fest: bringing people together to serve with compassion, creativity, and community. At BAYCC, we believe service can start at any age—and thanks to young leaders like Zeynep, the future’s looking bright.

A Sweet Ending to a Meaningful Day As the event came to a close, children were treated with ice cream, adding a sweet and playful touch to a day filled with service, celebration, and connection. The laughter and joy during this final moment reflected the warmth of the entire afternoon — a community coming together, sharing across generations, and creating memories that go far beyond a single day.

Nancy Gittleman from Temple Beth El said, “I really enjoyed it, and it was a lot of fun, energies were really positive, everybody is here from all different ages ”

BAYCC volunteer Yusuf said, “We would like to share this Eid celebration with the local community, and this was a great opportunity.”

BAYCC volunteer Melike said, “Eid means giving. We were able to pack pair of jeans and food supply and I feel that we are kind of fulfilled the meaning of the Eid today.”

Acknowledgements We are deeply grateful to nonprofit organizations who helped us identify the actual needs of people in need. We donated the prepared kits to the following organizations to be distributed to the people in need of them. Family Supportive Housing Hope’s Corner Agape Silicon Valley ICNA Relief This program was planned and organized by BAYCC Women Empowerment group who took leadership to coordinate with many sub-groups for detailed planning, outreach to non-profits, material purchase, children activities, decoration and catering. Each service station and kids station was led by women leaders in our community. We appreciate their time, donation and dedication for such a wonderful Eid celebration that enabled our community to live the true meaning of Eid al Adha (Eid of Giving). Special thanks to all the volunteers, donors, and BAYCC families who helped with setup and cleanup on the day of the event.