AI Generated Summary
- With volunteers, donors, religious institutions and media organizations working together, the two-day campaign turned the Sikh ethos of seva into tangible assistance for hundreds of kilometres away — carrying not only truckloads of supplies from Surrey to the Interior, but also a message of solidarity with those confronting the wildfire.
- — Guided by the Sikh principles of seva (selfless service) and sarbat da bhala — the welfare of all — Surrey’s Sikh community has mobilized nearly $50,000 in relief assistance for people affected by the devastating Bald Range wildfire near Summerland.
- In just 48 hours, members of the community contributed approximately $20,000 worth of essential goods, while another $28,000 was raised in cash donations, according to Narinder Singh Walia, president of the Guru Nanak Food Bank and Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib.
Surrey, B.C. — Guided by the Sikh principles of seva (selfless service) and sarbat da bhala — the welfare of all — Surrey’s Sikh community has mobilized nearly $50,000 in relief assistance for people affected by the devastating Bald Range wildfire near Summerland.
In just 48 hours, members of the community contributed approximately $20,000 worth of essential goods, while another $28,000 was raised in cash donations, according to Narinder Singh Walia, president of the Guru Nanak Food Bank and Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib.
The monetary contributions were used to purchase 14 skids of essential supplies from Costco, adding substantially to the material already donated by residents.
For Walia, the response represents a fundamental Sikh belief that service must extend beyond one’s own community and reach anyone facing hardship.
“As a community, we have to stand up with all those people who are affected by the wildfire,” Walia said, expressing gratitude to those who came forward to contribute. He described helping people in their hour of need as a duty and emphasized the importance of standing alongside affected families.
Donations poured into Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib in Surrey, which became the collection and coordination point for the relief effort. Volunteers gathered, organized and loaded the supplies into a semi-truck and trailer on Wednesday morning, Aug. 19.
The truck then departed Surrey for Penticton, where the supplies are being delivered to a local gurdwara for distribution among communities affected by the wildfire.
The initiative brought together Sikh institutions and South Asian media organizations, with Guru Nanak Food Bank, Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib, Sanjhay TV, Red FM, Connect FM and Swift Radio joining hands to collect donations and mobilize public support.
The effort is also an example of the role gurdwaras have historically played beyond being places of worship. Rooted in the Sikh tradition of seva, gurdwaras frequently serve as community hubs during emergencies, providing food, supplies and assistance irrespective of religion, ethnicity or background.
The relief campaign comes as the Bald Range wildfire continues to burn near Summerland. The fire began on Aug. 7, about 15 kilometres west of the community, and by Aug. 19 had grown to 22,693 hectares. It remained classified as out of control, with 14 evacuation alerts and eight evacuation orders in effect.
For Surrey’s Sikh community, the response to the disaster carries a simple message: when communities are confronted by crisis, service transcends boundaries.
With volunteers, donors, religious institutions and media organizations working together, the two-day campaign turned the Sikh ethos of seva into tangible assistance for hundreds of kilometres away — carrying not only truckloads of supplies from Surrey to the Interior, but also a message of solidarity with those confronting the wildfire.
