UNITED SIKHS Rallies Post-Sandy Relief Efforts

New York, NY: As thousands continue to struggle with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey, UNITED SIKHS staff and volunteers rush to provide aid to all who have been affected.
In collaboration with the Gurdwaras (Sikh place of worship) in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, UNITED SIKHS Disaster Response Team is providing over 1100 meals a day to people in evacuation shelters. UNITED SIKHS is in constant communication with local and state disaster relief agencies. The procurement and delivery of specifically requested items is underway to shelters bearing the brunt of evacuees.

Delivery of food at York College,NY	Pre packed Hot Meals to be served

Over 700 hot meals have been delivered to the York College shelter in Queens, NY itself. UNITED SIKHS Director Mankanwal Singh stated, “The joy this act brought on the faces of our fellow Americans was a sight I will never forget. The evacuees were extremely grateful and overjoyed to actually eat fresh hot food and not the MRE packages. This was the first time in 4 days many of them had eaten a hot meal.”

Volunteers distributing food

One of the ladies who visited to get the food for herself and her daughter spoke with UNITED SIKHS volunteers and said “I am very thankful and happy to get an actual meal.It is a pleasant change from the army rations.Thank you so much for the hot meal.Thank you and God Bless you!”
UNITED SIKHS teams across the nation have been mobilized to send additional supplies to the East Coast. A shipment of 500 blankets has been shipped from California to help provide warmth for hundreds of families bracing for a bitter winter.
UNITED SIKHS teams are also collaborating with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, the Office of Emergency Management, State VOAD’s and other local organizations.
The local shelters have requested UNITED SIKHS to immediately provide:

• Small hand towels
• Socks
• Diapers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Canned food such as soups, noodles etc

The community and local Gurdwaras have come together to assist in the preparation and delivery of hot meals and bottled water. UNITED SIKHS is grateful to the following Gurdwaras for their unflinching assistance:

• Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, NY
• Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Gurdwara, NY
• Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ
• Garden State Sikh Association Gurdwara, Bridgewater, NJ
• Glencove Gurdwara Saheb, Long Island, NY
• Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Southington, Connecticut
• Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar, Port Reading, NJ
• American Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee

How you can help:

• Donate cash or the “most needed” items
• Volunteer to help prepare or deliver pre-prepared hot meals
• Volunteer to drive displaced individuals and volunteers
• Donate blood
• Donate what you can, so emergency supplies and material can be purchased locally, saving time and resources.

Be the one who brings warmth to a family braving the bitter cold,
Be the one who brings nourishment to a child who hasn’t had a warm meal in days,
Be the one who brings solace to an elder who has no place else to lean,
Be the substantive change needed to help us overcome this immense disaster!
We appreciate the response we have received from the community, and we thank community members for their continued support of the Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort.
For more recent and updated information on UNITED SIKHS Relief Efforts visit: www.sevainmotion.com
If you would like your organization, community network or Gurdwara to partner with us please write to sikhaid-sandy@unitedsikhs.org or call 1-888-243-1690 | 1-646-688-3520 | 510-999-7726
Issued by:
Gurvinder Singh
National Director, UNITED SIKHS AID
sikhaid@unitedsikhs.org | unitedsikhs-usa@unitedsikhs.org
UNITED SIKHS:
Phone: 1-888-243-1690, 1-646-688-3525, 1-469-222-6288

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UNITED SIKHS serves in the fields of:
Sikh-Aid:The Sikh Aid team provides non-partisan global humanitarian disaster relief services, which not only provide immediate aid but also rehabilitation help to the needy.
International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy (ICHRA): Standing up for and helping protect  the civil and human rights of minorities and marginalized groups in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Community Empowerment and Education Division (CEED): Empowering individuals and groups to attain their full potential and become active participants in society through Education, Training and Community development projects. They take their place in the decision-making processes in their local community as well as in the international arena.

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Our Mission

To transform underprivileged and minority communities and individuals into informed and vibrant members of society through civic, educational and personal development programs, by fostering active participation in social and economic activity.
UNITED SIKHS is also an avenue for networking between like-minded organisations to establish and nurture meaningful projects and dialogues – whether social, cultural or political- to promote harmony, understanding and reciprocity in our villages, towns and cities.
UNITED SIKHS is a coalition of organisations and individuals, who share a common vision based on the belief that there is no greater endeavour than to serve, empower and uplift fellow beings. The core of our philosophy is an unwavering commitment to civic service and social progress on behalf of the common good.
Accordingly, UNITED SIKHS has sought to fulfil its mission not only by informing, educating and uplifting fellow beings but also by participating in cross-cultural and political exchanges to ensure that the promises and benefits of democracy are realized by all.
We at UNITED SIKHS believe that the development of enlightened and progressive societies can be made possible by socially conscious groups of people who make a commitment to develop and direct human potential. Our work, efforts and achievements stand as a testament to our faith in this vision.