Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic created financial constraints for international students and those with temporary work visa permit in Australia, many Sikh volunteer groups have been at the forefront providing them free meals, grocery items and other essential commodities.
One such non-profit organization, which epitomizes the Sikh concept of ‘seva’ that is “selfless community work, is UNITED SIKHS, which is affiliated to the United Nations Organisation. The social group has several chapters across USA, Europe and other parts of the world. It launched its Australia chapter of Guru Nanak’s Free Community Kitchen and Pantry, a global initiative on 23 May, 2020 in West Melbourne, Victoria,in collaboration with Wyndham Park Community Centre and has been providing free meals and grocery items to the families which have been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis.
Gurvinder Singh, Director from Australia of UNITED SIKHS, has stated that the Free Community Kitchen is all about equality, sharing and loving, and it gives him and the other volunteers a feeling of contentment to see people from different religions, caste and creed coming and eating together. He also mentioned that since lots of people have either lost their jobs due to the Covid crisis or have been compelled to work for reduced hours, their earnings have plummeted. Thus, there has been a rise in the demand for freshly cooked hot meals and grocery in the Wyndham community, especially among the vulnerable sections comprising international students, elderly people, aboriginals and homeless people.
Regarding the currently prevailing lockdown in Melbourne, Gurvinder Singh told India News, “We are distributing free PPE kits and facemasks which have become mandatory and those found without these will have to pay a fine of $200. Moreover, we are also adding Vitamin C supplements along with our grocery delivery which will help in boosting the immune system to fight coronavirus. Apart from this, free hand sanitizers are being given away at Gurudwaras and other public places. Also, we are educating people via our social media platforms about the need to maintain social distancing, use of sanitizers and hand-wash as well as staying at home unless it is absolutely necessary to step out and urging people to follow the government guidelines.”