Eight members of Vand Ke Chako, a Sikh youth organization, recently organized a community outreach initiative benefitting several organizations in Northwest Indiana.
The outreach initiative adheres to the Third Pillar of Sikhism — Vand Ke Chako — which promotes sharing with those in need, group spokesman Jason Singh said.
Before making the donations, members of Vand Ke Chako (VKC), based out of the Sikh Religious Society of Indiana in Merrillville, reached out to local shelters and nonprofit organizations to better understand the immediate needs within the community, Singh said.
The organizations that were helped included Sojourner Truth, Brothers Keeper and Faith Farms, all in Gary; St. Jude House in Crown Point; and Chasing Dreams in Hobart.
The VKC Sikh youth volunteers included Jason Singh, Preetkiran Singh, Ankurpreet Kaur, Simranjit Kaur, Kamaldeep Kaur, Raman Kaur, Ekjyot Kaur and Rabina Kaur.
All worked together to purchase, organize and deliver essential supplies requested by each organization.
Donations included food items, hygiene products, household necessities and other essential materials for families and individuals in need.
“Giving back to the community is something deeply rooted in our faith and upbringing,” Jason Singh said.
“Through initiatives like this, we hope to support families in need and encourage more youth to stay involved in selfless service within the community,” he said.
In previous years, the VKC community drives were generally organized around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
However, this year’s initiative coincided with Vaisakhi, which marks the Sikh New Year, the harvest season in Punjab, and the birth of the Khalsa established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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