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| Nanak Naam Jahaj Gurudwara, a Sikh Temple in Jersey City, will be serving 5,700 meals to 44 shelters in the tri-state area on Saturday. Lauren Casselberry/The Jersey Journal (LAUREN CASSELBERRY) |
Nov. 14,2014: Members of Jersey City's Sikh community are partnering up with Mayor Steve Fulop's office for their third-annual "Let's Share a Meal" event, which will serve people in shelters across Hudson County tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The event is organized by the Nanak Naam Jahaj Gurudwara of Jersey City. Food will be prepared at the Jersey City Sikh Temple on West Side Avenue and then delivered to shelters.
Last year, 4,500 people were served. This year, that number will rise to 5,700, as the temple will deliver meals to 44 shelters in both Jersey City and Hoboken.
"I am proud to join the Sikh community in a celebration of not only their religion, but of community service," Fulop said in a statement. "This event brings to light the importance of equality amongst our community members despite race, religion or creed, as well as the meaning of volunteerism. I encourage all able residents to participate in the 'Let's Share a Meal' daylong event in their community."
Each year, the event brings the Sikh community and local officials together to deliver food to shelters in an effort to establish equality and encourage volunteer service or "Seva."
Onkar Singh, who helped found the event three years ago, said helping others is a way for them to honor the legacy of the Sikh spiritual teacher, Guru Nanak Sahib Ji, who was born in 1469 in the Punjab region of India.
"God taught us to serve food to people who need it," said Singh, who serves on the temple's board of trustees. "If somebody needs something, you have to give something."