More than 350 SSIO members attended the Sathya Sai National Gratitude Day (Sai Vandana) celebrations on 21st October 2017 in Hatfield, London, honouring elder devotees ages 70 or greater, who had served the SSIO in various capacities. On this occasion, coinciding with Avatar Declaration Day, children enrolled in Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) also paid respect publicly to their parents as a gesture promoting family bonding and values. As part of the SSIO annual Serve the Planet initiative, volunteers recognised various charities with whom they had collaborated, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Refuge UK, British Red Cross, Royal Mail, and Food Bank (Hatfield).