Sikhs in Melbourne helping out peoples in worst-hit areas of Australia from last week’s floods. They are helping them by setting up their mobile kitchen in the parking area of a hardware store. Melbourne-based Sikh Volunteers Australia travelled nearly 1,200 km (746 miles) to the rural town of Taree in New South Wales
Farmer Mark Kappa was enjoying his first hot drink in three days as he waited patiently for his meal in front of a food truck run by a Sikh charity, after incessant rain in Australia’s southeast cut off towns and forced thousands to evacuate their homes.
“They said about 20 minutes or so, I’ll tuck in then,” Kappa said as the volunteers prepared pasta, rice and vegetarian curry.
Five deaths have been linked to the floods.
“We’ve had no power for three days out at the farm. We lost our milk. We lost everything,” Kappa said.
After serving almost 3,000 fresh meals over the last three days, Sikh Volunteers Australia head Jaswinder Singh said: “In times of disasters, I’ve seen the spirit of the Australians come even better, closer to each other … so that’s a good thing. That has a very positive impact.”
“To be able to know that you can turn up and just get some food is – it’s just heart-warming,” said Ashari Hudson, who was picking up food for a friend hit by floods.