In accordance with their daily prayer that ends with an appeal to God for the well-being of humankind, the Sikh community in B.C. has come forward to help victims of a devastating fire that almost engulfed Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Today, gurdwara leaders in Surrey flagged off three truckloads of nonperishable food items and groceries to Alberta. The items were collected within 48 hours after an appeal was issued by community activists.

The donation drive was launched by Avtar Singh of Akal Academy in partnership with various gurdwaras across Greater Vancouver. For the last two days people were seen delivering canned food to Sikh temples. 

Nearly 90,000 people had to be evacuated from Fort McMurray before the wildfire burned more than 2,000 structures. Bhupinder Gill, who lived in Fort McMurray and has now shifted to Edmonton, told the Straight that more than 500 Indians, including Punjabis and Gujaratis, resided in the town. Gill has created a Facebook page to help those affected. 

According to Avtar Singh, the donation drive will continue until life in Fort McMurray is back to normal. Tochi Sandhu of Envision Financial, who was present when three trucks left for Fort McMurray, estimated that it might take years for the affected town to recover.

"The whole country needs to get united," Sandhu said. "I am happy that the Sikhs are doing this." 

Devinder Singh Grewal of the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar said that for Sikhs, all human beings are one and that's why it becomes morally important to help fellow human beings at a time of crisis.

Tony Singh, founder of a large grocery chain called Fruiticana, was the main contributor. The trucks were loaded at his warehouse. He thinks that these efforts might have to be continued for an indefinite period of time.

Another donation drive is scheduled on Saturday (May 14) from 9 a.m. until evening at Tamanawis Park in Surrey. 

Others present on the occasion included prominent doctor and philanthropist Pargat Singh Bhurji, who had been to Nepal and Haiti in the past to help people affected by earthquakes.