Sikh Charity Tackles Poverty with Free Meals Initiative

 According to Daily Star “ A Sikh charity is providing free meals to those in need as part of its efforts to combat food poverty. Soul Aid, founded by Deepak Singh in 2017, partners with Ramjinder Maan Palvinder Singh, the owner and chef of Kulcha Express in Ilford, to deliver hundreds of free meal boxes throughout Essex. Additionally, they serve meals every Friday at a food collection point on Connaught Road, Ilford.

With the help of over 100 volunteers, Mr. Singh ensures the weekly meal service is open to everyone, with no limit on the number of people who can attend. The charity was created to raise awareness about food poverty and assist those in need, regardless of their race or religion. Mr. Singh explained that the rising demand for high protein food assistance was evident, which inspired him to establish Soul Aid.

Although Mr. Singh had been helping people for over two decades, he formalized his efforts through the charity. Soul Aid provides free meals, mainly traditional Punjabi cuisine, donated by Kulcha Express. They also make meal deliveries to those who request help through social media, email, or phone. Additionally, other charities inform them about people in need, and each case is carefully evaluated.

Mr. Singh has observed a 50% increase in the number of people seeking free meals due to the rising cost of living. “We’ve seen more people coming, but we’ll just serve more meals,” he said, emphasizing that they are prepared to meet the growing demand.

According to the anti-poverty charity, Trussell Trust, millions of people in the UK are experiencing food poverty, with one in five children affected. Between April 2023 and March 2024, five of the nine regions in England saw an increase in food parcel distribution, with an 8% rise in the East of England alone, amounting to nearly 350,000 parcels.

The latest data reveals that 6.3 million adults and 3 million children are living below the poverty line, and many are relying on food banks or at risk of doing so. The total figure of people facing hardship and hunger has reached a record high, with 580,000 more people needing assistance in 2023 compared to the previous year, and the number has risen by a million over the past five years.