Windsor Sikh community makes Valentine's Day care packages for women's shelters

Many members of the local Sikh community spent Sunday afternoon at the University of Windsor law school making care packages filled with Valentines cards, chocolates and personal care items for two women's shelters.

Kirpa Kaur Grewal, a volunteer with the World Sikh Organization of Canada, was one of the organizers of this drive. While similar initiatives have been organized in other Ontario cities, Grewal said it was the first for Windsor.

"It's just a really great opportunity to remind women that are currently living in shelters that somebody is thinking of them and sending them love, especially around a time like Valentine's Day," she said.

"The fact that we're making 100 packages in our first year is so astronomical. I'm so proud of the team because I really believe that this will have a really great impact on the women in Windsor."

Grewal said they collected funds from the community, purchased items and with their 50 volunteers made 100 care packages that will be delivered to Hiatus House and Welcome Centre Shelter.

"The purpose of these packages are to provide items that could be seen as a luxury for these vulnerable women… We just want to really spread happiness and sunshine to these women," she said.

During Valentine's week, Grewal said she wants to remind people to spread love, not just with a partner, but to the wider community too.

Packing the packages with soap, toothbrushes, chocolate and nail files, volunteer and first-year law student Jaspreet Khalsa said it's all about giving back to the community. 

"We want to make sure that this Valentine's week, everyone feels loved and appreciated," she said, noting there's a huge need in the community.

"Whenever you can, get out in the community and help and give back because you never know when you're going to be in a similar situation."

Even kids were seen participating in the drive. For 11-year-old Taaran Singh, making these packages feels special.

"I do it because it helps other people and it just feels good inside to do that," he said, urging others to do their bit.

"Even if it was one package, it would still make a difference."

University of Windsor student Jagdeep Singh said the shelter provides a safe haven for those experiencing domestic violence.

Calling it seva, a Punjabi word for service, Singh said the drive in a way helps him fight the societal injustices.

"This is like a great opportunity for us to practice our faith and apply that teaching and help everybody that's facing domestic violence," he said.

"There should be more of this happening in Windsor. The more events we do like this, the more exposure people facing domestic violence can get for help."

"A very needed donation": Welcome Centre shelter

Sara Latouf is the volunteer coordinator at the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families and coordinates donations in kind for the shelter. She said the "fabulous donations from the World Sikh organization" will help the 67 women they are currently housing.

"This is a very needed donation, so this meets the very necessary need for us," she said.

Latouf said the self-care items in the packages aren't easily attainable for everyone. She said  the shelter easily goes through hundreds of toothbrushes, toothpastes and personal items every year.

"These kinds of items will go quite quickly because the need is so high and this type of donation really provides the clients that we serve with necessary items," she said. "They won't last very long. So we are continuously relying on donations and the shelter is so appreciative when we do receive such generosity like this."

Latouf hopes  the donation will inspire others in the community, noting that they don't often receive donations in such a large quantity, all at once.

"The women who are receiving these packages, they will be able to feel that kindness through this generosity," she said. 

"This time of year, in the cold weather, to be able to have that little piece of comfort back in their lives, it's invaluable."