Sikh volunteers preparing meals for emergency services and vulnerable people. (L-R) Sahab Singh, Gurvinder Singh, Haravinderjeet Singh, Jagat Pargash Singh, Fatehjeet Singh and Dilibagh Singh.
Middlesbrough has had a rich Sikh community since the 1940s.
The first Gurdwara, being the name for a Sikh place of worship, was established on Southfield Road in the 1960s but moved to the larger current premises on Lorne Street in 1990.
Fatehjeet Singh president of Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji Gurdwara, Lorne Street, Middlesbrough
“One of the pillars of the Sikh religion is voluntary service to mankind, and the Sikh community has been on the front line wherever food has been needed”, says Fatehjeet.
“ Beginning in March, we have been serving hundreds of meals to local hospitals”, says Fatehjeet Singh.
When Covid-19 was at its first peak, some of the hospital staff were working 11 hours shifts without the chance of a break.Prepared each Thursday morning from 6am, the food is distributed along with a bottle of water: 300 meals to James Cook Universty Hospital , 250 meals to Cleveland Constabularies and 50 meals to Cleveland Fire Brigade.
Sikhs at Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji Gurdwara, Middlesbrough, have been cooking and providing meals for emergency services and those in need
With closures and social distancing due to Covid-19, the Sikh community have stayed connected although remaining apart.“It’s affecting us quite badly, but we have channels from big Sikh communities”, says Fatehjeet, including online meetings from London and Birmingham.
As well as encouraging the congregation to pray from home, there are online hymns and holy scripts being read in various online meetings for people to access.
“I don’t know how people will take to life after, we’ve learnt a lot from it and it’s brought communities together more”, added Fatehjeet.
Staying in contact the best they can, the congregation are grateful that there has been no Covid-19 related fatalities in the Middlesbrough Sikh community.
As part of the weekly ‘Clap for Carers’ initiative, Fatehjeet has felt humbled and connected by the amount of people who have supported key workers and our NHS during this difficult time.
“It’s brought neighbours together”, he added, looking at the positives that have arisen from this challenging time.
Whether people have had problems with their mental health or drugs, we serve mankind no matter who you are”, added Fatehjeet.
Long before Covid-19, our Sikh community has cared for those around them, and throughout this current crisis they have gone the extra mile to feed and care for Teessiders.
Link:https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/its-brought-communities-together-how-18341520
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