Seva with Small Hands
Sat, Jul 16, 2016: We were deeply saddened by the vast damage struck by wildfires in Alberta, Canada. Many families from province of Newfoundland have family members that live in Alberta. As I explained the current events to our kids, they were naturally inquisitive and needed reassurance in understanding the events through the Sikhs' eyes and Gurus' children. Inspired by Gurus' sakhis' beautifully explained on Sikhnet Stories, they brainstormed ideas to help. As kids, nothing can be more delicious as homemade cookies and muffins with some lemonade, they thought to distribute them to kids in Alberta. But maybe more then cookies and muffins they need toys or maybe more then toys they need necessities. So they set out to make cookies and cake for their Saturday morning seva and distribute them locally to raise funds and send to Alberta through United Sikhs.
Searching a place to distribute the baked goods was somewhat difficult. Upon calling the nearest Walmart, they received a refusal as Walmart didn't entertain the idea of outsiders setting up tables at the store for donations. Next, they tried at a nearby shopping plaza where it was also difficult to find a table as the manager was not working over the weekend. So they remembered the fire trucks outside the grocery store parking lot during Christmas collecting food items for needy families for the holidays and decided that parking lot would be a perfect location.
My son excitedly spoke "Of course to do seva, I need to wear my turban". With moms help in few hours they were ready with their SUVs trunk wide open and signs ready to distribute cookies. They were met with great sympathy for their care and at times even few shrug shoulders. They continued their distribution with great excitement and enthusiasm on Saturday and remaining on Sunday. They enjoyed bringing Sikhi to the people in town of Clarenville. We are giving cookies just like they give food at langar they discussed.
With Waheguru's blessing they raised close to $200 and they were happy to send to United Sikhs to distribute to the kids whose toys the wildfire took away.