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British Columbia‘s Sikhs Deliver $1 Million Worth Of Donations For Fort McMurray Evacuees

BETSY TRUMPENER

 

 

 






A convoy of Sikh-Canadian truck drivers from Surrey, British Columbia (“B.C.“) has completed a 2,262 kilometre return journey, hauling almost $1 million worth of donated goods to Edmonton for families from Fort McMurray forced to flee the wildfire.

The donations come from BC's Sikh community, mostly from Surrey and Vancouver.

"When they saw people fleeing their homes, in B.C. the whole Sikh community got together to collect food and clothing and whatever that was needed," said Kulmit Singh Sangha, a member of Edmonton's Sikh community who welcomed the truckers midday on Monday, May 16, 2016.

Surrey truck driver Ranjit Singh Dhillon was set to back his tractor trailer up to a loading bay at Edmonton's southside emergency donation centre. 

Normally, Ranjit hauls containers of lumber.

But Monday, he was unloading brand new pillows, children's clothes, toys, baby food, diapers and soft drinks. It was his second long haul trip from Surrey to help the victims of the Fort McMurray fire.

"I love it," said Ranjit. "I love helping the people. We feel they are all our families. They need our help."

Dhillon drove over the Rocky Mountains in a convoy with eight other drivers from Surrey, their trucks sporting colourful banners stating the message: BC Sikh Community Donation Drive for Fort McMurray.

Out on the highway, Ranjit said, the drivers were greeted with lots of horn honking from other vehicles and people saying things like "you are doing very well" and "we're very happy and excited."

Ranjit Singh is urging other Sikh communities across B.C. and Canada to join in the generosity.

"The fundamental principal of Sikhism is helping and sharing with others," said Kulmit Singh. "Sikhs have been blessed by coming here to this country that has bestowed on them so many opportunities. So why not share with people when they need it?"


[Courtesy: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (’CBC“). Edited for sikhchic.com]
May 18, 2016
 

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