Sikh Volunteers Drive 12 Hours To Cook Hot Meals For People Affected By East Coast Floods

Large swaths of eastern Australia have been absolutely battered by storms and flooding, causing catastrophic damage to people's homes and livelihoods.

Some areas are still submerged or cut off as a result of the floods and others are now trying to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild.

But just when those affected thought there wasn't anything to smile about, help arrived.

Sikh Volunteers Australia members made the lengthy 12 hour trip up from Melbourne to help deliver hot meals.

Some Hindus brought curries to feed those who might not have had a hot meal in days, while others brought a washing machine so that residents and State Emergency Service workers could have clean clothes.

Manpreet Singh made the half day trip up to Taree from Victoria's capital with food and utensils and said the reaction was overwhelming.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "People were so welcome and so happy to see us. Because when we told them we are from Melbourne, they are so surprised.

"One lady started to cry as well, she was so humbled. Like you guys came from long drive and to help us here."

They managed to cover considerable ground last week and visited Taree, Oxley Island, Manning Point, Castle Hill and have now returned back to Victoria.

"We are going according to the situation. We will see where most people need the food, then we will move there," Mr Singh said.

They posted photos and videos of volunteers going door-to-door to help those who might have been affected by the floods.

They would also set up their vans at a community area and hand out the meals to whoever needed them.

People were overwhelmed by their charity on social media, with one person writing: "I cannot properly express my absolute admiration for the Sikh Volunteers who continue to show up! These are Aussies, this is Aussie, the most Aussie of Aussie! Many other Aussies could learn lessons from their compassionate, non-judgemental kindness!"

Another added: "Keep up the great humanitarian work. Sikh Volunteers Australia has amazing team! Stay blessed and be safe."

But they weren't the only volunteers helping Aussies when they were at their lowest.

Another Sikh group Turbans 4 Australia travelled from Sydney to deliver much needed supplies to affected residents on the New South Wales mid-north coast.

The Arya Samaj Temple in Shanes Park in Sydney also threw open its doors to provide food and shelter to people who might not have a home to go to.

Even though the temple was flooded as well, the president of the temple didn't want anyone to go without a roof over their head.

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