Australian Sikh Volunteers Are Delivering Food To People With COVID

Members of Sikh volunteers Australia have taken it upon themselves to deliver food to Covid-19 patients.

The group, who has made headlines multiple times for their selfless actions, has shared videos of volunteers packing containers of food for people in need.

As we hit a seven-day average of 100,000+ cases nationally and shops around the country are reporting empty shelves due to worker and supply chain issues, this is incredibly necessary and wholesome behaviour.

It's a particularly stark contrast given the criticism levelled at other groups, including Hillsong, who have continued to hold events during times of high Covid-19 transmission.

The group has attracted praise on social media for the videos of its volunteers, with many celebrating the selfless actions to support Australians in need.

People are drawing comparisons not just between the Sikh volunteers and Hillsong, but also the lack of support from the government for people struggling with isolation.

During Victoria's sixth Covid-19 lockdown last August, Sikh Volunteers Australia cooked, packed and delivered nearly 80,000 free meals in 81 days.

They also held a fundraiser to build the funds for a new kitchen which would enable them to make 10,000 meals per day.

The group donated free food to single parents, the elderly, international students, the unemployed and the homeless in seven council areas including Kingston, Monash and Mornington.

Volunteer Kamaldeep Singh told Guardian Australia they were seeing a huge number of people reaching out for help during lockdown.

"A pregnant lady called me the other day, crying, saying she didn't have any food, she couldn't cook and had tested positive [for Covid] so couldn't leave. What could she do? We had to help her," Singh said.

"There are a number of situations like that: people in difficult situations, single mothers, international students, the elderly, the people that were most affected by the lockdown."

The group no has over 500 members.

Sikh volunteers also helped provide food and care for victims of the Black Summer bushfires, which drew thanks from Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

"During our Black Summer of bushfires, Sikh volunteers dropped everything and began cooking hot meals for bushfire-affected communities in Victoria," he said.

"Likewise, when the pandemic hit, Sikh groups right across the nation leapt to the task of preparing and delivering food and groceries to international students, the elderly and the isolated."

Topics: News, Australian Sikh Volunteers, Australia