Sikh Community In Washington DC Has Been Organising Langar For Past 7 Weeks, More Than 2,100 Food Packages Distributed

For the past seven weeks a group of about 25 Sikh volunteers has been distributing food in a drive-through zone.

The Guru Nanak Foundation of America Gurudwara in Silver Spring, in the Washington DC metro area, has turned the traditional tenant of Sikhism - the 'langar sewa' into a drive-thru food distribution zone, reports ANI. In seven weeks the volunteers have distributed more than 2,100 food packages.

ANI

Every Sunday more than 300 families line up in the drive-through to receive food items like fresh produce and packaged food, which proves to be helpful for the poor and those in search of a meal, amid COVID-19 crisis.

People of different faiths line up at the drive-through as early as 9.30 am even though the Langar does not start until 11 am. "I am just so grateful that you are helping the community,¡± ANI quoted a lady thanking the volunteers.

When you come here to get something, it is not like anything below your dignity, but it is looking forward to something that you can appreciate," another person there to receive the donation said.

USA: Guru Nanak Foundation of America Gurudwara, in Silver Spring of Washington Metropolitan Area, has been organising 'Langar' at a drive-thru food distribution zone for past seven weeks. It's organised every Sunday, wherein non-perishable food is given to people arriving here. pic.twitter.com/3ADQg7a1xU

¡ª ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020

"That smile on the face I think that says it all and I think, more than them, it is us that are grateful that we have been able to carry out this food drive," ANI quoted Ginny Ahluwalia, Representative of the Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee of the Guru Nanak Foundation of America as saying.

The Sikh community in America has been working towards organising langars for quite some time now, including those affected by the pandemic, and BLM protesters.

The packaging process is systematised and packages contain mostly non-perishable food items like crackers, cookies, cakes, food cans and fresh fruits.

Also Read: Community Cooks Free Meals For Over 30,000 In Isolation In New York

ANI

"By God's grace, we have been successfully doing this for the seventh week. We have not had any shortage (food and funds). People have been donating. So, whoever can volunteer is giving their time. Whoever cannot give their time is giving money," Ginny told ANI.

Sikh community has always stood at the forefront of helping the needy, be it during the Delhi riots or Australian bushfires.