Sikh volunteer group setting up permanent free kitchen on DTES

For nearly 15 years, volunteers with Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen have been preparing food in home kitchens and at Lower Mainland gurdwaras, and delivering meals to the Downtown Eastside in a truck.

The Sikh group’s mission and motto is “Love All, feed all.” Now that they have taken possession of a permanent location on East Hastings Street, they’ll be able to significantly increase how many people they serve.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors we will be getting possession of GNFK’s new home on Sunday November 7th 2021. This building is scheduled to open mid 2022. The fundraising is ongoing to pay for renovations and mortgage. Hope too see you all on Sunday #loveallfeedall pic.twitter.com/MXOc76XSX9

— GNFK (@gnfk_van) October 28, 2021

Volunteer Paul Hundle says the plan is to offer meals every day instead of just on weekends.

“The service has grown quite a bit. Now it’s come to the point where we would like to go from two days a week to seven days a week, and the building will allow that to happen more efficiently. By having our own building down there, and a kitchen facility in there it will allow us to cook it right there and serve it hot,” he explains.

“As Sikh’s, ‘Love all feed all’ is very important to us. We’re wanting to give back to the community and being able to do the do this food service in the Downtown Eastside allows us to give back to the greater community.”

A fundraising campaign was launched to raise the money to purchase the space in April of 2021. So far, it has raised more than $450,000 through a combination of events like a Walk-a-Thon, and donations from individuals, businesses and other groups.

 

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A post shared by Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen (@gnfk_van)

The group’s work is rooted in Sikh principles of “the practice of langar – the communal kitchen, and seva – the selfless service of humanity,” according to the website.

“For the Sikh community, this project is not missionary in nature, instead it is an opportunity for us to extend this true Sikh spirit of helping those in need regardless of caste, colour, creed, and economic status.

So far, over one million meals have been served, and there are 400 volunteers registered. In addition to the weekly meal service, the group holds an annual toy drive, collects school supplies in the summer months for kids who can’t afford them, and delivers groceries to shelter and other food hubs.

Renovations to the new space will have to be complete, and the grand opening is planned for the summer of 2022.

With files from Nikitha Martins