B.C. Sikhs raise $1.5 million for Haiti

Bikramjit Singh Sandhar - donations still coming in.

SURREY, B.C. Members of the Sikh community have opened their hearts and wallets and raised a whopping $1.5 million to help Haitians in their hour of need.

The fund raising drive was spearheaded by the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Society and leaders of the community say donations are still coming in.

, “It is important for us to come together,” said temple president Bikramjit Singh Sandhar “we are all one family and we need to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti.”

“While the impact and the devastation of the earthquake continues to be assessed and new donations continue to come in on a daily basis, the fundraising volunteers feel there is no time to waste,” he said.

“Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, along with community partners, will be sending the funds to support emergency relief efforts by local and national relief agencies currently on the ground assisting the injured earthquake victims, arranging the safe relocation of people displaced from their homes, and finding host families for orphaned children,” he added.

“100% of the funds collected through the Gurdwara will be donated for the relief efforts,” said Sandhar.

The money was raised in collaboration with Red FM, Radio Sher-E-Punjab and Radio India.

Sandhar made an open request to the community-at-large for healing and support for the victims.

“At this time we can support those families by praying for them and their loved ones, and by supporting the best efforts to give assistance to those that are in need,” he said.

Related posts:

1. Canada boosts Haiti relief by $80 million
2. Sikhs angered by torching of temple in Australia
3. Sikhs can wear ceremonial knives at 2010 Olympics
4. 30 new deaths from Swine Flu raise Canada’s toll to 309
5. Madonna donates $250,000 to help Haiti victims

Posted by News Editor on Jan 21 2010. Filed under Top Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry