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New Jersey-Based Sikh Organization Engages in California Fire Relief Efforts. As California wildfires slowly come under partial control, a New Jersey-based non-profit organization, Let’s Share a Meal, has stepped up to provide critical relief to affected communities. Actively delivering meals and essential supplies, the volunteer-driven group is also offering emotional support to victims, reminding them that hope and recovery are within reach.
Providing More Than Just Meals
Let’s Share a Meal is doing far more than distributing food. Volunteers are meeting with victims face-to-face, offering reassurance and a sense of stability during these challenging times. “Our volunteers went and told them, ‘We are with you. Your main thing is you are alive. The whole world is with you,’” said Onkar Singh, a New Jersey businessman and member of the organization, in a recent press release.
The organization’s efforts have been nothing short of transformative. Volunteers have been visiting shelters across Los Angeles, delivering essential items such as baby bikes, diapers, food, formula, water, hand wipes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and beverages. Their presence has brought comfort to countless families grappling with the aftermath of the fires.
A Growing Legacy of Service
Founded in 2012 by volunteers from the Nanak Naam Jahaj Gurudwara in Jersey City, Let’s Share a Meal has grown into an international movement with chapters in India, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in the teachings of Sikh Guru Nanak, the organization is dedicated to spreading love and compassion through food and service to those in need.
Today, the group provides over 20,000 meals to more than 100 shelters in New York and New Jersey during Thanksgiving alone. Their rapid response to the California wildfires underscores their commitment to serving communities in crisis, regardless of geographic boundaries.
Community-Wide Relief Efforts
While Let’s Share a Meal has been a standout contributor, other faith-based organizations have also joined the relief efforts. The Jain Temple and Hindu Temple have organized supply drives, collecting basic necessities for fire victims. Local and national organizations, celebrities, businesses, and individuals have also come together, demonstrating the power of collective action in times of need.
Looking Ahead
Despite ongoing firefighting and cleanup efforts, many Californians remain uncertain about their future. For those who have lost homes and businesses, the road to recovery is long. However, the unwavering support of organizations like Let’s Share a Meal offers a glimmer of hope.
As the fires are gradually contained, the focus now shifts to rebuilding lives and communities. With the continued efforts of volunteers and organizations, the message is clear: no one is alone in this fight.
Let’s Share a Meal and its volunteers are a testament to the power of compassion and community. Their work reminds us that even in the darkest times, kindness can light the way forward.
For more information or to support their efforts, visit letusshareameal.org.
