For this year’s Thanksgiving week, Let’s Share a Meal (LSM), a nonprofit organization led by the Sikh community, with Jersey City presence, held a successful initiative to feed thousands of people in New Jersey and other states.
Working with more than 700 volunteers from New Jersey and beyond, LSM prepared and delivered fresh vegetarian meals to more than 10,000 individuals across 80 locations in five states, including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, a press release from the organization said.
The prepared meals were distributed at homeless shelters, senior citizen residences, and soup kitchens. The non-profit LSM has been doing this and other initiatives for the past 12 years.
One of the key organizers of the event, highlighted the spiritual inspiration behind this initiative, Onkar Singh, said, “Let’s Share a Meal was inspired by the life and teachings of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, who established the concept of Langar, or community kitchen. This tradition is built on the values of selfless service and equality — feeding the hungry without discrimination, regardless of their race, religion, or background.” The importance of children the values of “Oneness” and peace and harmony was the reasoning behind the initiatives, Singh added.
According to Harleen Kaur, a long-time volunteer, “I have been part of this incredible effort for over 15 years, and I am so grateful to see how it has grown. Every year, more and more people — volunteers and donors alike — come together to make this possible.”
The organization’s drive has grown significantly in recent years. From serving just 1,500 meals in its first year, LSM now distributes more than 20,000 meals annually. It plans to continue to expand and reach more people in coming years.
The success of the Thanksgiving meal drive has helped the organization extend its impact beyond the U.S. to countries like India, the United Kingdom, and Australia, where similar efforts are underway. The initiative’s expansion is a testament to the universal appeal of selfless service and the Sikh community’s commitment to spreading compassion worldwide, organizers said.
“Our Langar serves as a beacon of hope and unity, emphasizing humanity and equality across all boundaries,” Singh added. “It is a reminder that we are all human beings, and we should treat each other with care and respect, regardless of caste, creed, or gender. This is the true spirit of Thanksgiving.”
(Used with permission)
