As we count down to the end of 2024, here are some of the top stories this year in Voorhees.
Selfless service
The first South Jersey Gandhi Day of Service brought together more than 80 people from diverse backgrounds to the home of residents Anish and Kanchi Doshi, an October gathering to encourage meaningful connections and reflections on service.
The event began with an introduction by Kanchi, who emphasized the day’s theme of selfless service inspired by the teaching of India’s Mahatma Gandhi. Kanchi urged attendees to reflect on their roles in fostering compassion within their communities. Anish delivered a spoken word poem titled “Open Your Arms” that emphsizes the power of generosity.
Young talents from Voorhees also showcased their gifts at the gathering, starting with 7-year-old Simira Doshi, who performed her rendition of “That’s What Friends Are For,” reminding participants of the importance of friendship, kindness and support.
The day of service continued with speeches from other township youth, Tulsi Patel, Saachi Rajpal and Tejal Chheda. They shared personal stories about how service had impacted their lives and communities, reinforcing the notion that young people can be powerful catalysts for change.
Soham Chheda delivered an uplifting rap song called “Be the Change” to encourage attendees to make a difference in their communities. Anika Sandiliya followed that with “Rise Up,” which moved many to tears and evoked the emotional impact of the day as well as the connection between art and social change.
In addition to the artistic performances, the Gandhi Day of Service included a hands-on service project in which volunteers helped assemble more than 100 welcome bags for families of sick kids at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden. Children also created hand-made cards for young patients.
The Doshis reflected on the motivation behind the day of service.
“Kanchi and I have always believed in the power of community and service,” Anish explained. “Gandhi’s message of selflessness and non-violence resonates deeply with us.”
His wife noted that while the couple had organized other projects, the day of service had special significance, paying tribute to Gandhi’s legacy and inspiring others to engage in meaningful service.
“We wanted to create an event where service was at the center,” Anish observed, adding that the couple spent weeks organizing the day. “Teaching both children and adults that small actions can lead to real change .. Hosting the event at our home naturally set a tone of intimacy and warmth.”
Among memorable moments on the day of service was when attendees wearing matching “Be the Change” shirts worked together on the welcome bags.
“Seeing people of all ages come together for a common cause was incredibly heartwarming,” Anish noted. “The diversity symbolized how kindness and compassion transcend differences.”
Alyssa Joseph discovered her passion for music early on, after attending an open mic night when she was in the seventh grade.
‘Another year’
Alyssa Joseph, a Voorhees native turned Nashville indie rock artist, released an introspective single that she said speaks directly to the pressures women face while navigating career aspirations and societal expectations.
The alternative rock anthem, “Another Year,” touches on those pressures.
“I turned 30, and I’ve been super stuck on the fact that I can’t think of any women who have had their break in music after they’ve had kids,” Joseph said of the song’s inspiration. “There’s so much misogyny, and when you become a mom, society doesn’t look at you the same. I feel like my time is ticking.”
The Eastern High School graduate discovered her passion for music early in life.
“My mom took me to an open mic night at Borders when I was in seventh grade,” Joseph recalled. “I wrote my first song then and realized how much I loved writing my own music.”
Joseph’s path included studying music at Drexel University and interning in Nashville, where she fell in love with the city’s diverse music scene. She made the move there five years ago, establishing herself as an indie rocker.
“I write songs as a coping mechanism, and I’ve always had really big feelings,” Joseph explained.
The singer said her music is often shaped by personal experiences, including the loss of a brother.
“I didn’t write for a year after he passed,” she remembered. “I needed to reach a stage of anger in order to start writing again. Music became a way for me to cope.”
A catharsis, Joseph related, came with “Another Year,” which she describes as a sonic journey of balancing life’s expectations.
“We’re all still figuring our (stuff) out,” she observed. “You will never ‘arrive.’ We are perpetual works in progress.”
Participants celebrated culture, community and the joy of dance at the Camden County library in Voorhees on Sept. 30.
Celebrating the dance
ing A celebration of vibrant music, colorful costumes, and cultural heritage filled the Camden County library in Voorhees on the evening of Sept. 30.
The Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club – in collaboration with the Voorhees Cultural and Diversity Committee (VCDC) – hosted a workshop that brought the local community together to experience the joy and history of Indian dance. Led by Sapana Raval, vice president of the Lions Club and a member of VCDC, the workshop was an inspiring cultural experience emphasizing unity through tradition and dance.
Raval, who was instrumental in organizing and leading the event, shared her passion for dance and its role in her life.
“Not only does dance fill my heart with joy, but it also has motivated and inspired me throughout my life,” she said. “It gave me confidence, taught me responsibility, and teamwork. I wanted to share that with others.”
With a room full of eager participants of all ages, the evening was filled with energy and excitement as Raval introduced the group to several forms of Indian folk dance, including Garba, a traditional dance from the state of Gujarat, India. Garba, often performed during the Hindu festival of Navratri, has a deep cultural and spiritual significance.
For Raval, who is originally from India, said sharing the dances with the community is more than just movement, it is about preserving a rich cultural heritage and passing it on to future generations.
“Primarily, it keeps the culture alive,” she explained. “By sharing and teaching younger generations the dances, they can be passed down to positively affect more people in diverse communities. Folk dance can be a major tool for cultural expression and asserting one’s ethnic identity.
“In a country as diverse as India, dance and music play an important role in promoting unity and celebrating our shared identity.”
The collaboration between the Lions Club and VCDC was an essential aspect of the workshop’s success.
“This event was part of a larger initiative by the Lions Club to promote health, wellness, and cultural awareness in the Voorhees-Gibbsboro area,” noted Mimi Hadi, secretary for the club.
