With a drive to make a difference during quarantine, PURE Youth Wichita was formed during a time of uncertainty. PURE Youth Wichita was formed in the summer of 2020, with just 4 members. Our first project, a bake sale fundraising for period poverty, allowed chapter members to collaborate for the first time and find a way to work collectively despite the distance. As the months passed, our branch grew to become a team of 8. In the fall, we held a raffle to raise money for inner city schools. It was during this time that we realized how hard it truly was to juggle PURE and make it just as important as our daily lives. Despite this struggle, the team continued to bounce back and make PURE their top priority alongside their personal lives. Recently, we have taken on a new approach while still abiding by the COVID regulations here in Wichita. Awareness within our own community is key to making a difference and getting the message out there will further the cause and awareness. The more people who know about the PURE Wichita Team the better. The team advocates for hard work, determination, and dedication. We encourage each and every one of our ambassadors to engage in meetings and contribute their own ideas so as to establish a firm sense of leadership in not only the directors but in the ambassadors as well. We are a team and though our numbers have shrunk down to 5, we work diligently to achieve our goals and set a proper example for future ambassadors and directors to come.

We hope to grow as a chapter and continue to make a difference, whether it’s big or small, and to adapt and learn from our fellow ambassadors so as to work better as a team.

Projects:

1. Our first project was a bake sale, featuring gulab jamuns. It was a massive hit, as many people loved the gulab jamuns and ordered a lot. We raised $700 throughout the sale, and followed up throughout the 2020-2021 year with sales featuring fall-themed treats, and in the spring, potted plant kits and candles. Overall, it was a successful first year for our small yet passionate chapter.

2. In our second year, we kicked things off with a PURE activity and sale in the local park. Kids came over to get tattoos and buy yummy treats. We moved forward in the fall by selling baked goods at the local Hindu temple, where we were also able to show a lot of people about PURE Youth Wichita and what we do.

3. In the spring that year, Satvik Kolla wanted to use his passion for cycling in tandem with PURE’s cause. He pledged to ride 800 miles in eight weeks, and took pledges from various donors for his “distance drive”. This was PURE Youth Wichita’s biggest success so far, as Satvik raised $1265 through his cycling. This money was incredibly useful when a tornado struck the local community in Wichita, and it was used to buy supplies for those who had lost their homes during the disaster. Satvik was also awarded the PURE Impact Award and The Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award this year for his work.

4. In the summer of 2022, PURE Youth Wichita’s other ambassadors followed Satvik’s footsteps. The ambassadors all combined running, walking, and swimming to collectively raise $2350, topping the fundraiser from the Spring. Highlighted ambassadors were Satvik Kolla, who ran 75 miles and raised $1015, and Sophie Agha, who raised $550 by walking 32 miles. Much of this money was used to buy shoes and underwear for the local orphanage, the Wichita Children’s Home.

5. In the fall of 2022, the chapter did another fall-themed bake sale, with a variety of yummy treats. It was a nice success, and the chapter is excited for what it can do going forward. With plenty of passionate youngsters in the community, PURE Youth Wichita is excited to expand its horizons in the years to come.

Awards, Recognitions, and Special Contributions:

Directors & Ambassadors: