GNFK celebrates Vaisakhi with a commitment to meeting $2 million fundraising goal to launch a facility to serve DTES residents
THIS Vaisakhi, Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen (GNFK) and Connect FM 91.5 are holding a radiothon on Wednesday, April 13 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on location at 13376 Comber Way in Surrey. The radiothon will raise funds to establish a permanent home for GNFK’s mobile kitchen to serve residents of the downtown eastside with free, hot, nutritious meals seven days a week.
“We are looking to the wider community to help us make this facility a reality,” says Paul Hundle, Radiothon Coordinator. “Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen’s permanent home will feature a food rescue program, a food bank, a meditation facility, space to connect residents with social services and counseling, and ‘langar’.”
Langar is the service of free, nutritious, vegetarian food. The concept is central to the Sikh concept of “seva” and selfless service. Since 2006, Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen volunteers have prepared langar and served it to those in need. Preparing and serving is only a small part of the effort; however, the larger part involves reinforcing connections with the community through being present, compassionate, caring, empathetic and non-judgmental.
“All gurudwaras, Sikh places of worship, feature volunteer-run kitchens designed to feed all members of the community, regardless of their backgrounds, at all times,” says Roveen Kandola.
“Sixteen years ago, we decided to take this model of preparing and sharing meals to the broader community through our mobile kitchen once a week. However, this permanent base in the heart of the DTES community will give us an opportunity to serve the community every single day.”
The goal is to have the building operational by the summer of 2022 with a fully equipped commercial kitchen. The formal fundraising campaign for a permanent home for GNFK launched mid-2021 to raise $2 million to acquire a permanent facility. GNFK succeeded in acquiring the two-level building at 245 E Hastings Street in Vancouver in November 2021 due to an interest-free loan of $1.5 million. GNFK has raised over $770,000 so far and the building is currently undergoing extensive renovations including a fully functional commercial kitchen.
Connect FM Radio will host the live-at-location event with Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen. Donations can be made through Canada Helps.
GNFK (Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen) brings the practice of langar,providing free food through a communal, volunteer-run kitchen and selfless service of humanity, to different communities. Its volunteers serve, and more importantly engage Sikh principles of serving all – regardless of caste, colour, creed, and economic status. For the Sikh community, this project is not missionary in nature, the purpose is to find common ground and serve comfort and connection over the sharing of communal meals.
