VANCOUVER – As most of us celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthday this week we find that there are others that celebrate it year-round by following some of his teachings. The idea of serving food to those in need was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji over 600 years and continues even today. His good work has now spread around the globe. In England there are groups that provide a similar service for the needy in several cities. Locally, Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen has been serving food to the needy for almost five years. This service is based from the New Westminster Sukh Sagar Gurdwara and takes turns every week with the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. Every Sunday food is served downtown.
Sikh Seva volunteers, in Vancouver, have been serving food on every second Saturday at the same downtown location for nearly three years. Some food is donated but mostly is bought by the volunteers. Volunteer Nicky Chohan even takes time to go across the border to shop for this good cause. Kevin Rakhra does the local shopping and other volunteers take turns purchasing grocery items and utensils needed for the serving. A group of youngsters help out peeling 50 lbs of onions, potatoes and then help with the prep and cooking.
Even though this service is for a good cause the volunteers faced many hurdles but continued humbly despite the hardships. Food is now prepared on Fridays at a new location – Guru Amar Das Niwas (across the street at the Ross Gurdwara) and cooked Saturday mornings then taken downtown in private vehicles. Over 600 people are served a warm fresh healthy meal of rice & vegetables, chick-pea & potato daal, roti, kheer and tea along with other items that volunteers prepare at home. Everyone is welcomed to help and volunteer. The next service is Saturday, November 8.
For volunteer information contact: Kevin S. Rakhra 604-649-0173 or Nicky K. Chohan 604-338-0777 or email them at SikhSevaVancouver@gmail. com
