Mason City Council honors Seva Diwali, adopts Santa-themed resolution and commits up to $10,000 to holiday help fund

Mason City Council on Dec. 8 unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing Seva Diwali for its volunteer work addressing local food insecurity and then approved a ceremonial resolution encouraging Santa to visit Mason children, with staff reaffirming up to $10,000 in the community holiday help fund.

City staff introduced Resolution 2025‑28, citing Seva Diwali’s local contributions. A representative of the Seva Diwali coalition told the council the group collected 5,726 pounds of food this year for local partners including the Comet Cupboard and ReachOut Lakota. “For both of these organizations, together, we donated 5,726 pounds of food,” the representative said.

Council members praised the group’s work. “Seva is something…that concept that’s very embedded in myself,” Council member Singh said, adding that the initiative shows “the importance of it cannot be understated.” Other council members echoed thanks and encouraged residents to volunteer with local food programs.

After a motion to suspend the rules, the council adopted Resolution 2025‑28 and posed for a group photo with representatives. The council then read Resolution 2025‑29, a ceremonial piece encouraging Santa and his reindeer to visit Mason and urging residents to remember neighbors who may be struggling this season. The resolution text also reaffirmed a staff commitment of up to $10,000 to the community holiday help fund to support families in need.

Both resolutions were adopted following motions to suspend the rules and unanimous roll‑call votes. The Seva Diwali representative said the local effort is part of a larger national initiative that aims to collect one million pounds of food; locally organizers reported more than 17,000 pounds collected across Ohio to date.

The council did not attach policy changes or new mandates to either resolution; both were framed as recognitions and ceremonial support for community programs. The Santa resolution includes the city’s symbolic commitment to community holiday assistance and directs staff to administer previously approved assistance funds that are already in city accounts.

The meeting record shows the council will continue routine agenda business and that no additional follow-up action tied specifically to either resolution was scheduled at the Dec. 8 session.