Edmonton's Sikh community partners with food bank amid unprecedented demand – Edmonton

A religious celebration has prompted Edmonton's Sikh community to give back by collecting food and financial donations for the Edmonton Food Bank.

The community unveiled a check for just over $50,000 signed by the Edmonton Sikh community in partnership with My Radio 580. They have been raising money for the food bank for about twenty years.

“The food bank plays a very important role in our society and in our city to help all kinds of people,” explains Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib spokesperson Kuldip Chana.

The fundraising initiative launched in mid-November at the newly opened Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib, located near 66th Street Southwest and 4th Avenue Southwest.

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The community celebrated the 555th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, on November 15.

“In his teachings, Guru Nanak Dev Ji reminds us to help those in need, to be selfless and to live honestly,” Chana said.

Tamisan Bencz-Knight, the manager of strategic relationships and partnerships with the Food Bank of Edmonton, said the organization is heavily reliant on these fundraisers now more than ever.

In October of this year, the organization experienced unprecedented demand for its basket program, which serves more than 47,000 people.

The last record the food bank broke was six months ago, when the charity fed 43,000 people.

“Those are the wrong kind of records to beat,” Bencz-Knight said.

“We are almost breaking even. We can hold on. But if we see more increases and more need, we will have other conversations about that in the new year.”

For more information, see the video at the top of this story.

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