Highlights
- Shepparton in regional Victoria faces lockdown after the 'concerning' outbreak
- Sikh volunteers assist people who have been severely impacted by pandemic
- They come forward to serve hundreds of free meals and grocery kits
Volunteers from the gurudwara (Sikh temple) operated by Guru Nanak Sikh Society in Shepparton and Khalsa Foundation are assisting people who have been severely impacted by the recent outbreak.
In an interview with SBS Punjabi, the gurudwara secretary Gurmeet Singh said the situation became critical after over 16,000 people were asked to self-isolate as the town became the centre of the most significant Delta outbreak in regional Victoria.
"It became tough to handle once the virus hit our schools. It resulted in putting over one-third of the town's population in isolation. The massive scale of the outbreak prompted us to provide free food and grocery services to the most vulnerable residents," he said.
Mr Singh said the volunteers have served over 100 families and are committed to reaching out to many more in days to come.
Mr Singh said they are currently struggling to meet the growing demand for free food as many of their volunteers have also been impacted.
A Sikh volunteer preparing containers filled with cooked lentils and rice. Source: Supplied by Guru Nanak Sikh Society
“We don’t have many volunteers who can assist with our day-to-day operations. But hopefully, we will be able to help more people towards the end of this week.
“We were in a rather comfortable position compared to metropolitan Melbourne before this lockdown. But the recent outbreak has hit us severely,” he added.
Kamaldeep Singh, a representative of the charity group Khalsa Foundation, said they have been helping the community during various lockdowns across Victoria.
Sikh volunteers packaging food containers for distribution. Source: Supplied by Khalsa Foundation
"We have experienced a significant surge in demand for free meals since the pandemic. Our initiative aims to help disadvantaged people and those in need of a meal during these challenging times.
"It is a joint effort of the local Sikh community that follows the principles and philosophy of the Sikh Gurus, who taught us the fundamental concept of humanity, which is to respect and share what we have with others," he said.
Khalsa Foundation has also been running free food services near Flinders Street Station in Melbourne since the early stages of the pandemic.
Acknowledging the Khalsa Foundation's efforts in a media release on 26 August, the Victorian Government said their service is being funded so they can continue their food delivery service providing groceries and essential items to Shepparton residents.
Khalsa Foundation serving free food near Flinders Street Station, Melbourne. Source: Khalsa Foundation
"Since the start of the pandemic, the Government has funded more than 320 community organisations through the program to provide emergency relief, food support and community outreach, as well as targeted communication through translated materials and community-led content," the statement read.
The state government said it has invested nearly $23 million to support more than 500,000 Victorians since August 2020.
Meanwhile, authorities and the Red Cross have conducted more than 1600 compliance and welfare checks in Shepparton.
to vulnerable community members last week, while Coles has also donated two semi-trailers full of products to a local food share agency.
Shepparton has a thriving CALD community represented by dozens of backgrounds and language groups, including the Punjabi-speaking Sikh community.
The town also has the largest Indigenous population in regional Victoria.
Click on the audio link to hear full interviews with Gurjeet Singh and Kamaldeep Singh.
LISTEN TO
Shepparton’s Sikh community bands together to serve free meals and grocery kits as COVID cluster grows
SBS Punjabi
11:39
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