SURREY – Valentine’s Day is a special time of year celebrated by people who send messages of love and affection to partners, family, and friends. During this time, we tend to forget women and children who fall victim to violence and injustice.
There are many community initiatives that help raise awareness for women and children seeking refuge in shelters. A fantastic example of communities coming together is the Annual Valentine’s Day Event hosted by Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen and Global Girl Power in partnership with Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar, who rally the Sikh community to collect and donate roses and chocolates for those in need this Valentine’s Day.
Roses and chocolates collected in this campaign will directly benefit women and children supported by various shelters across the lower mainland including, Burnaby Safe House, Elizabeth Gurney House, and Vancouver Women’s Rape relief & Shelter.
“Sikhs believe in Guru Nanak’s philosophy to love all and feed all.” says Roveen Kandola with Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen. “It’s important that during these times, we think of those less fortunate and make their day much brighter”.
“Our residents (moms and kids) truly appreciate your generosity”, says Irene de Ocampo at Elizabeth Gurney House. “Thank you to Guru Nanaks Free Kitchen for always considering our shelter as a recipient of flowers and chocolates”
Over the past several weeks, donors and volunteers have been raising money and working on logistics in the Metro Vancouver area. All roses and chocolates will be transported to Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar in New Westminster, where volunteers will package 900 roses, chocolates, and greeting cards for distribution to shelters across the lower mainland on Saturday, February 13th.
The annual Valentine’s Day initiative has helped approximately 100 shelters over the past three years, providing hundreds of women and children the opportunity to experience a more enjoyable Valentine’s Day.
Date: Saturday, February 13th, 2016 Time: 2:00pm Location: Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar, 347 Wood Street, New Westminster, BC, V3M 5K6 Interviews and On-Site Media Contact:
Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen operates monthly, weekly and special programs during the year, serving 3,500 meals every month, along with donating clothing and other items to residents in need who live in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
The practice of langar – the communal kitchen and seva – the selfless service of humanity; philosophies taught by our first Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji many hundreds of years ago. For the Sikh community, this project is not missionary in nature, instead it is an opportunity for us to extend this true Sikh spirit of helping those in need regardless of caste, colour, creed, and economic status.
Global Girl Power Global Girl Power is a global movement committed to empower, educate, support, protect and respect women and girls around the world. Our aim is to inspire global change by bringing together communities of mindful leaders to initiate dialogue, participation and activism.
