At the warehouse I met Rick Younie who works with the Food Bank and he informed me that although people perceive Richmond to be less affected by poverty, they get visits from as many as 150 families a week. I was very happy to also see some of their volunteers and it just reaffirmed my appreciation for the work done by the Food Banks.

If you haven’t had a chance yet, please get out to your local Food Bank or any convenient drop-off location and share some non-perishable food items for those less fortunate. Rick mentioned that infant formula and powdered milk are two items that are a little more expensive but also more in need – the requirements for donations may vary across food banks so it’s best to check with your local food bank.

Today is Blog Action Day, which is an international campaign to unite blogs to discuss a single important concept. Today, October 15th, over 11,000 blogs around the world are posting about BAD08 and the topic is poverty.

I’d like to bring your attention to a great initiative that has been taking place for the last year bringing free, wholesome meals to the individuals living in poverty in the Downtown Eastside. Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen, which was not always known by that name but has been in existence almost two years, is non-political non-profit network of volunteers that comprises of individuals from all communities, faiths, age groups and regions of the Lower Mainland.

Using the Life Skills Center on East Cordova Street as the “kitchen,” the volunteers bring hot meals and refreshing beverages from the Sikh gurdwara and serve them in a safe, warm, indoors open room to all indiscriminately. In addition, clothing is also collected from the community, which is even more important this winter as the weather becomes wetter and colder. This project has been taking place two days a month, every month since the summer of 2007 and once every few months prior to that.

The Sikh Community is celebrating 300 Years since the ascension to the throne of “Guru” (enlightener) of the current and everlasting spiritual leader of Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib. In honour of this occasion and in direct correlation with the Sikh teachings of universal love and service of humanity, the next free kitchen event will be a full week long, from November 11th through 15th (Tuesday through Saturday).

This event has been very well received by the local community in Vancouver and many people living in poverty have shown the same love and appreciation with which the volunteers take part in their service. Unfortunately, this is only one piece of the solution to helping the poor in Vancouver and hopefully we can all continue to contribute through our goodwill, personal commitment, dedication, financial contribution, and prayers.

For more information and to volunteer, visit Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen website. They don’t accept any financial donations but they are always accepting contributions of specific food and clothing items (check the website for details).

Update: The Free Kitchen volunteers are also taking part in the Homeless Action Week and serving food to approximately 200 people on Thursday 16 Oct. Anybody that wishes to help out can come out to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, 514 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster, where we are serving food from 11.00am to 1.00pm.