STEPPING
UP FOR HUNGER
The pride of the Hoosier Sikh Americans was evident as young
men and women loaded up a van,
a bright banner “Guru Nanak Food Pantry” blazing on
its side, with canned foods and non-perishable supplies at the
Sikh Temple (Acton Road). Over one half-ton of collected food
was collected for the Gleaners Food Bank, which distributes donated
food year-round to many established area organizations serving
the hungry in Central Indiana.
The 2009-Baisakhi Canned Food Drive by the Sikh Temple (Acton
Road) was in direct response to the Interfaith Hunger Initiative
(IHI), co-chaired by Mr. James Morris (former Head of the UN Food
Program) and Rev. Kent Millard, Senior Pastor, St. Luke’s
United Methodist Church. The goal is to eliminate hunger; an estimated
18,000 children in the Metropolitan area who go hungry every night
and serve children in Kenya. Besides the Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis,
several other groups representing diverse faith traditions are
supporting this important humanitarian effort. Mr. Maninder Walia,
Trustee, Sikh Satsang and I are honored to serve on the IHI Committee.
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For this occasion, we were happy to welcome Mr. Dave Miner, Volunteer
Executive Director of the IHI to the Sikh Temple. Mr. Miner addressed
the congregation and was greatly pleased with the effort and concern
of the Hoosier Sikhs for their fellow Americans in need. Mr. Miner
was honored with a “Siropa” (sacred scarf of honor)
by Giani Pritam Singh, Head Granthi of the Sikh Satsang, “for
his commitment and seva to the cause of hunger.” In his
introduction of the special guest, KP Singh, a community volunteer,
gave a brief explanation of the long-standing Sikh tradition of
serving others and the institution of Langar: community kitchen
in Sikh Temples since the time of Guru Nanak, Founder of the Sikh
faith. During the weeks of canned food drive, Maninder often reminded
the Sunday gatherings of this great Sikh tradition of serving
the needy, sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry, and that
as a community we must generously support and join in such efforts
in our City as an act of faith and thanksgiving.
Mr. Miner visited with members of the Sikh Satsang during Langar
and saw first hand the time-honored institution of Sikh community
kitchen, open to all without distinction.
PRAYER-REFLECTION
Hunger is a growing and urgent humanitarian crisis; millions
go hungry and are under-nourished across the globe. Food, along
with air, water, and sunshine, must be part of the basic and guaranteed
human rights. Alleviating hunger must be a universal moral responsibility,
an act of faith that demands our individual and collective response
to this problem. When we make our young adults more aware of such
contemporary challenges and encourage them to lead and invest
in efforts that make a difference, we introduce them, not just
about their own faith tradition, but to the sacred concept of
helping others, an idea that finds spiritual advocacy and moral
resonance in every faith tradition. We exemplify an important
lesson as to what our shared humanity is all about when we serve:
feed the hungry, pick-up the fallen, nurture another soul with
the gifts that God has entrusted to us, we extend God’s
Love to one another in His Name and by His Grace. The Sikh spirituality
and Commandments remind us that service is the true prayer; seva
and sharing is the Way to know God. When, in a spirit of grace,
we honor our true moral mandates, we add meaning to our lives
and discover new heavens along the way.
Kanwal Prakash Singh
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
