CLARE BOYD-MACRAE

“They arrived with sack upon sack of stuff – ten kilogram bags of rice, flour, pasta – worth over $1000.”

John Evans, minister at Church of All Nations (CAN) in Carlton, was describing the scene when a group of Sikhs, mainly from the Blackburn temple, arrived with substantial donations for CAN’s ‘pantry’ for needy families.

Pree Kaur is the national coordinator of ‘Sikhcess’, a community-based Sikh organisation run by volunteers to feed the hungry.

She contacted Lord Mayor John So’s office to ask where large quantities of non-perishable food stuffs goods could best be used. Several places, including CAN, were recommended.

“I thought Church of All Nations was the best place,” says Pree. “No one is discriminated against; people of any religion, race or culture are cared for and I love that.”

As in the Judeo-Christian tradition, Sikhs are encouraged to give ten per cent of their income.
As for feeding the hungry, “we’re Sikhs, right, but not only Sikhs can do this,” says Pree.

“Anybody can donate or help, and we’re out there to make a difference for everyone.”
John Evans says the donated food will be well used in a variety of CAN programs – community lunch on Mondays, the food pantry and teaching people to bake bread.

“So often it’s the Christian church giving to others, this time it was the other way around.”
CAN’s pantry helped 4,537 people in 2007.

www.sikhcess.com