Vancouver, BC - Once again, hundreds of volunteers of Guru Nanak Free Kitchen managed to serve over 4,000 meals a day to the needy, hungry and homeless community at downtown Vancouver East Side from April 14th to 19th 2008.
Volunteers came from all over the Lower Mainland to take part in the cooking, serving, donating food items, just to be part of the week long seva.
In the week beginning April 14th, 2008, Life Skills Centre, a facility designed to provide social services to residents of Vancouver’s downtown east side, was bracing itself for one of largest ever free food distribution events. Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen was able to not just able to feed thousands from 10.00 am to 6.00pm, every day, but also provide food to the local Churches and Women Shelters.
Full praise goes to Dhan Guru Nanak who started this over 500 years ago, the concept of ‘seva’ has reached new proportions.
Many of the volunteers had a vey fulfilling experience.
“Indeed, it is difficult to put into words how much I got out of this experience” says Sean, who sacrificed a week from work to partake in this event. “Not only did I meet some amazing individuals (both volunteers and guests), but it taught me a lot about myself, my abilities, shortcomings, values, etc., and what it means to be a Sikh. Plus the speech by the guest at our final Ardas on Saturday evening really elucidated the fact that our presence is making a difference in the community there. I think it was a very poignant moment for all of us present.
Sean was not alone. Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen. Sonia, who took part for the 4th time in a row, adds: “You all still amaze me with all your energy and pulling together to cover all this issues, problems, tasks that most people don't see on the front end. There is a lot of work that goes into making this come together and successful. Countless hours were spent that most people don't even see; the true spirit of seva. What really makes it all worth it is when you hear comments from the sangat that they love having us and would like for us to return. I'm not sure if you all were aware, but one woman gave 3 flowers to represent incompletion and to say that she and the Downtown East Side would like for us to return. I have learnt a great deal from this and this is a life changing experience for me. I am honoured that I was able to share this experience with all of you. Dhan Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji.”
Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen is a seva organization, everyone is a volunteer with different skill backgrounds. Our principles are simple: do seva to the best of your capacity, we do not collect or request financial donations. Anyone wishing to donate basically call the seva hotline number or email: gurunanaksfreekitchen@com, and our volunteers then notify the donor the items needed. We were overwhelmed with the response. One donor, Paul Arora of Gagan Foods Ltd was happy to oblige, “when I heard about the Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen, I wanted to help so I donated bulk items like rice, sugar and daal because I knew it was going to get to the people in need.”
The ‘seva’ is going from strength to strength, Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen volunteers are trying to make it as organized as possible, e.g. everyone is giving a role so that the homeless community is served better. So much planning goes on behind the scenes, the kitchen supplies have to be ordered, venue has to be booked in advance, volunteer roles defined, cooking items and venue determined and so on. One volunteer who came from Abbotsford, Jasvir Singh Dhillon, wanted to assist in cooking. So at 2.00 am for the entire week, he arrived at Sukh Sagar Gurdwara, New Westminster: “it was an amazing experience, the sheer size of the cooking pots, the amount of food being cooked was astonishing!.... my mum is particularly pleased that I learnt how to cook. We starting cooking from early morning until 8.00 am, at that time I was completely shattered, but it was well worth the experience. I am already looking forward to the next one.”
The langar (free food) is distributed on behalf of the entire Sikh community. Gurdwara’s are always willing to help with the cooking facilities. Bhai Harbhajan Singh, President of Sukh Sagar, Khalsa Diwan Society, New Westminster comments, “when the volunteers approached us for the use of our kitchen, we had no hesitation in accommodating Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen. These youngsters are doing a terrific job in doing something positive in the Community, considering there is so much negative news these days in our community, we appeal to all Gurdwara’s to assist this group of dedicated volunteers,”
The next event is scheduled for June 7 and 8, 2008, if there is anyone wishing to take part in this humbling experience, please email: gurunanaksfreekitchen@gmail.com or phone: 778-881-SEVA.
