“There’s such need for social services in Peel region that aren’t just there,” said Gurmeet Ahluwalia, the Chair of Seva Food Bank during their annual Gala.

Sikh Serving Community, a not-for-profit organization, was trying to figure out a way to give back to the broader Canadian community. After working with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Mississauga Food Bank, they thought that the best way to give back is in the form of Seva Food Bank.

In just eight months, Seva Food Bank has served 450 client families living in L5B and L5C postal codes of Mississauga. Most of the families it services are from Latin America, Pakistan, Middle East and Eastern European countries that have come to Canada in last 10 years.

“There’s such need for social services in Peel region that aren’t just there,” said Gurmeet Ahluwalia, the Chair of Seva Food Bank during their annual Gala on Friday.

Many times people are ashamed to seek help. Gurmeet says “we treat them [client families] with dignity. We know it’s not easy to ask for food for your family.”

Mississauga Food Bank delivers food to Seva Food Bank once a month. “Beyond that Punjab Charity Association and Guru Gobind Foundation raised 20,000 pounds of food on Vaisakhi,” said the Chair of Seva Food Bank.

Seva Food Bank is “100 per cent volunteer run” organization says Gurmeet. Even so, it needs funds to pay off the rent, the phone bills and to supplement the food with fresh food. The client families are provided with  five to seven days worth of food once a month.

“The goal was to sell 200 tickets [at the Gala], we are well over 300 tickets,” said excited Gurmeet hoping that funds raised will be well over $10,000.  At the event were present the newly elected Tory MP Parm Gill, MPP Vic Dhillon (Brampton West), Councillor George Carlson and former Councillor and MP Carolyn Parrish. There have been rumours that Ms. Carolyn Parrish will run provincially from Mississauga East Cooksville riding. Ms. Parrish categorically denied her desire to run for any office.

Gurmeet Ahluwalia, Chiar of Seva Food bank

Birender and Kulvir Gill