Kerrville, Tx: The City of Kerrville, Texas, along with the Kerr Economic Development Corporation and the Kerr Together Long-Term Recovery Group, honored Sewa International and other Indian American organizations on December 9 for their outstanding service and leadership during the July 4 flash floods that affected the city this year.
Reflecting on the experience, Mayor Joe Herrington remarked,“This wasn’t just emergency response—it was a ministry. Helping others is how we serve God, and Sewa International embodied that spirit every single day. Their volunteers brought hope, structure, and humanity when our community needed it most.”
In addition, the Indo-American Charity Foundation (IACF), Sewa’s partner organization, made a significant contribution of $50,000 toward flood recovery efforts.
Key city officials, including Economic Development Manager Kelly Hagemeyer, Kerr EDC Deputy Director Theresa Metcalf, Todd Bock, Executive Director, Kerr Economic Development Corporation, and City Manager Dalton Rice, expressed gratitude for the early and sustained support provided by Sewa International, which played a central role in uniting Indian American organizations across Texas to support Kerrville’s recovery.
Under the guidance of Mr. Prashant Sona of the Houston Indian Consulate, and the leadership of Ramesh Cherivirala and Pankaj Rana of IACF, multiple organizations rallied together, including Arya Samaj, Indian Muslims Association of Greater Houston, Indian Doctors’ Association, Indo American Conservatives of Texas, and Indian Doctors’ Charitable Clinic.
Several individuals—Nikhil Jain, Vinayak Astekar, Sunil Kolluru, Trinabh Shukla, Jitendra Chaudhary, Swapnil Padate, and others—were also recognized for their direct contributions, both financially and on the ground.
Overall, city leaders credited Sewa International USA for being among the first organizations to arrive and among the last to leave. As one official said, “Sewa’s dedication didn’t end with the initial emergency. They have continued to support long-term recovery and have remained a pillar of strength for families rebuilding their lives.”
