Above: From left, Simran Kaur Chandan, 14, Neha Kaur Chana, 19, Gurkiran Kaur Tatla, 16, Netu Kaur Chana, 17, Gursimran Kaur Virk, 15, and Jivan Kaur Chandan, 11,
Current Events
Sikh-Canadian Youth Spearhead Winter-Coat Drive For Needy
by DYLAN KRISTY
The Sikh community of Windsor (Ontario, Canada) extended a warm embrace to the downtown mission Saturday (November 14, 2011) with the donation of more than 300 winter coats and apparel.
The Gurdwara Khalsa Parkash hosted a coat drive which collected more than 300 coats, sweaters, gloves and scarves.
The collection was spearheaded by the Sikh-Canadian youth who were using the coat drive to practice one of the main tenets of their faith - the Sikh Religion.
“One of our major teachings is helping the needy and we thought this would be a good opportunity to help a large number of people,” said 16-year-old Gurkiran Kaur Tatla.
Gurkiran was among about 10 youth between the ages of 11 to 19 that helped collect the donations.
Ron Dunn, director of development and community relations for the Downtown Mission, said the demand for winter apparel is higher than ever and the donation is greatly appreciated.
“What we want to accomplish is to keep these people fed and as warm as possible so this will go a long way toward doing that,” Dunn said.
Dunn said he estimates about 200 people attend the mission every day for lunch, which is a number he has seen steadily rise over the last three years.
“The face of poverty is changing,” he said.
“It used to be what you would imagine as a typical person but now it’s people just like you and I who can’t afford to feed the family.”
Dunn said the donation will be sorted by size and gender and then distributed to those in need.
“The need is great and the pie is getting thinner and unfortunately that’s the reality,” Dunn said.
“Everything is donated so we hope the community continues to support us like they have in the past.”
He said canned meat is a hot ticket item but any kind of donation is greatly appreciated.
[Courtesy: The Windsor Star]
November 14, 2011
Conversation about this article
1: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), November 14, 2011, 7:37 PM.
Excellent work! Last few winters in Punjab were terrible and in Amritsar the giving out of new blankets to the homeless by Sikh citizens including a Darbar Sahib Raagi, are great gestures to see and experience.