NZ Sikh Games distribute 1500 free food bags in South Auckland

New Zealand Sikh Games, a community-sports organisation based in Auckland have once again come forward to help the families and individuals with free food bags in the South Auckland region.

Deemed ‘Essential Services’ by the government since the first lockdown earlier this year, NZ Sikh Games supported by Papakura Koraconnect, Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board, New Zealand Kabaddi Federation and The Otara Kai Village distributed free bags consisting perishable and non-perishable food items that were picked up by around 1500 individuals earlier on Saturday, August 29.

Earlier last month, New Zealand Sikh Games in collaboration with retail shops and other organisations distributed masks, stationery packs and food bags to the community in different locations of Auckland.

Speaking with the Indian Weekender, Daljeet Singh, president of New Zealand Sikh Games said once alert level 3 lockdown was announced people started missing work once again thereby affecting the income of the families.

“It became pertinent to think about our community members as we went back to the place where people were once again falling short of basic resources to support their families- so we decided to come out again and help in whatever capacity we can,” Daljeet Singh said.

Collaborating with local board and vendors, New Zealand Sikh Games arranged hundreds of kgs of vegetables including potatoes, onion, carrots, cabbage, fruits such as apple, banana, milk, bread, eggs, sugar, sanitising items etc.

Seventy volunteers from New Zealand Sikh Games worked long hours to arrange food items in creates, unload and pack it in food bags to be collected by individuals and families in distress.

“The concept is to give the necessary house and food items for families to feed themselves if they are having a shortage of resources to support their families,” Daljeet Singh.

Approximately 1500 individuals queued at the Otara Kai Village with bags to pick up the food items maintaining necessary social distancing.

People picking up the free food bags expressed their gratitude and appreciation towards New Zealand Sikh Games on social media by posting photos and thanking them at times of distress.