A Tauranga Sikh temple serving about 2000 free meals per week says the cost-of-living crisis has had a “big impact” on the demand for food.
It comes as the annual Sikh parade takes place in Tauranga on Sunday.
Tauranga’s Gurudwara Sikh Sangat temple president Puran Singh told the Bay of Plenty Times the temple offered free vegetarian food, such as rice, lentils, mixed vegetables, chapati, yoghurt and drinks such as tea, coffee and water.
“People can come any time if they’ve got no food.”
On weekdays, more than 200 people went for a meal whereas on weekends, about 500 people would “come and go” for meals, he said.
He said everyone was welcome to come for a meal - the only restriction was that people could not drink alcohol or cause “any trouble”.
Singh said the programme had been running since 2012. The temple did not receive any funding for food and members donated, which meant the temple could offer meals at no cost.
He said the Sikh religion believed in helping people in need, such as by providing food. This was particularly evident during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Growth of Sikh community in Tauranga ‘good for everybody’
Singh said the Sikh community in Tauranga and Te Puke had grown “very large”, with about 7000 members.
In 2012, when the temple opened, there were between 1500 and 2000 members, Singh said.
He said people in the Sikh community were drawn to jobs in the kiwifruit industry.
“Most people are coming from the village and they love to work in farms so that’s why we have a large community here, especially from Auckland ... a lot of people are moving to Tauranga.”
Singh, who has lived in Tauranga for the last 25 years, said the growth of the community was “good for everybody”.
He said people from Katikati, Te Puke, Rotorua, Whakatāne and Waihi would travel to visit the temple in Tauranga.
Information on the Tauranga City Council website says Devonport Rd will be closed between 11th and 14th Ave, as will parts of 14th Ave, 13th Ave, 11th Ave, Fraser St and Burrows St from 11am to 3pm on Sunday.