Aussies Raise More Than $340,000 In One Day To Help Sikh Volunteers Build New Kitchen

Australians are absolutely smashing a fundraiser to help Sikh volunteers build a new kitchen.

Sikh Volunteers Australia launched the online campaign this week an have been inundated with donations from all over the country.

They have set a goal of $600,000 and more than $340,000 has already been raised.

These volunteers have helped Aussies during some of their darkest days by providing free meals.

Whether it's floods, bushfires or lengthy lockdowns, the Sikh Volunteers Australia group is always on the road to ensure Aussies are at least being fed.

But they've been overwhelmed with demand in the past 18 months and are hoping to build a new kitchen to keep up.

They've written on their fundraising page: "Since the beginning of the pandemic, we've provide over 180,000 free meals to the doorsteps of community members in 41 suburbs. In time of need, we are there for those that need us more than ever. It's what we do best. Help those in times of crisis.

"However, we can't keep up with the demand. We are currently significantly limited by the current kitchen facility that we have. It is just too small to extend our operations and help those that need us in this pandemic and beyond.

"Since 2017, we've rented community kitchens and have been supported by like-minded organisations that let us use their kitchen facility. Still, a permanent own kitchen facility is a must to keep the scale of operations SVA is running."

They've already found their plot of land they hope to build the new facility on and they've described it as 'magical'.

They reckon they'll be able to churn out up to 10,000 meals a day to 'cover almost all of Victoria regardless of the landscape and resources available in the area'.

They've done all the hard work in the pre-development stage of construction, they say they just need the funds to turn their dream into a reality.

"It is essential that we can meet the cries for help when they come our way. The current lockdown we are in at the moment has again shown the desperate need for our services," they wrote.

"We have the team, we have the volunteers and the network we just desperately need a bigger space to prepare more meals. It brings us so much joy to be able to deliver a meal to those less fortunate."

People have already dug deep with loads of three-figure donations already. Hopefully it's not too much time until they hit their goal.

Featured Image Credit: Sikh Volunteers Australia/Facebook

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie