The Sikh community of Sydney, Australia has spent over $4,000 Australian dollars on a food donation program for elderly folks stuck in self-isolation.
The group known as âTurbans of Australia,â has so far donated more than 1.5 tons of food that will be delivered to Sydney residents who are unable to regularly shop for basic non-perishable foods.
Speaking with The Daily Mail Australia, Amar Singh, a volunteer truck-driver said that while preference was being given to the elderly, disabled, and people at greater risk of serious complications from coronavirus, his organization would help anyone who calls.
âThe health directive of the mandatory 14-day self-isolation has left many people unable to provide for themselves,â Mr. Singh said. âWe donât want anyone to miss out on essentials.â
Mr. Singh also revealed that he and all the members of the volunteer force work full-time jobs, so they are finding time to help people while in their spare timeâthough some members go so far as donating 25 hours of their time.
Another organization of SikhsâSikh Volunteers of Australia, based in Melbourne, were delivering 1,000 home-cooked meals to elderly and others unable to go grocery shopping during the pandemic, predominantly in the cityâs south-eastern neighborhoods.
Marpreet Singh, the groupâs vice-president, told The Mail that once it became clear that people were in dire need of food, his organization, which runs a free food for the homeless program twice a week, would work around the clock for the next two weeks while the 14-day isolation period wore down.
â(Itâs mostly) vulnerable people who are worried about the virus or people having trouble getting food at the supermarket, and disabled, homeless and single parents who are looking after their kids and canât go out,â Mr. Singh said.
Source: GNN
