Surrey Khalsa Parade launches huge charity food drive

THE world’s largest Vaisakhi parade, the Surrey Khalsa Day Parade, will be undertaking a significant drive as part of the festivities on April 19.

“The giving of food is at the heart of Khalsa celebrations,” said Moninder Singh, spokesperson for the event organizer, Dashmesh Darbar Gurdwara. “Thousands of Sikh families and businesses celebrate this important day by giving away food along the parade route. This year we are asking the community, local businesses and attendees to the parade to instead consider bringing non-perishable food for the Surrey Food Bank.”

As a non-profit, charitable organization, the Surrey Food Bank operates solely on donations of money and food from individuals, organizations and corporations as well as various fundraising events. The organization’s participation in the Khalsa Day Parade will therefore serve as a prime opportunity to increase their charitable reach to give people a “hand up, not a hand out”.

The Food Bank has identified the most urgently needed items as:
* Large cans of powdered baby formula
* Canned fish / meat (e.g. tuna, ham, turkey)
* Healthy cereal (hot or cold)
* Meals in a tin (e.g. pork n’ beans or stew)
* Canned vegetables
* Canned fruit
* Wholegrain pasta / rice
* Pasta sauces
* Canned and dry soups
* Macaroni and cheese

Those wishing to make donations of non-perishable food can do so from April 13-20 at the Dashmesh Darbar Gurdwara, 115, 12885 85 Avenue in Surrey. A number of collection areas will also be located along the parade route on April 19.

For more information about the Khalsa Day Parade visit: www.surreyvaisakhiparade.ca.
For more information about the Surrey Food Bank, visit http://www.surreyfoodbank.org.