Tamworth United Sikhs Guru Nanak Mission provides free food delivery to community struggling amid COVID-19 pandemic

As the state's outbreak of COVID-19 reaches "national emergency" proportions, families have been left without a stable income and elderly residents or people with disabilities too afraid to leave their homes.

So, Prabhjot Singh and his friends in the Indian community have set up camp in restaurant kitchens around town and are taking food to the people.

"We share free food with people regardless of race or religion, food is a basic necessity and by sharing something out of a selfless nature we increase the love and community in Tamworth," he said.

"This concept is important because there's lots of different people from different backgrounds that live here and it's something to remove barriers for togetherness.

"It's a good gesture."

Four months ago the mission started a free food stall at the fuel station near Coledale, but it was forced to shutdown due to restrictions.

Given sharing is a principle of the Sikh religion, they had to get creative, Mr Singh said.

"We thought, 'why can't we go to their doorsteps to deliver food to them?'" he said.

"People are really in need now because a lot of them are disabled or can't cook their own food, so we thought we'd help them in any way as much as we can."

The group put the message out on the Guru Nanak Mission Facebook page for anyone who was in need to lodge their orders.

The specialties are vegetarian pasta, rice dishes and Indian curries.

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It's a great help for families doing it tough but a necessity for people who may have to be in quarantine, Mr Singh said.

"As per my experience a lot of people are single mothers or elderly people who are struggling with cooking," he said.

"People are struggling, some don't have money to buy food and when they order with us it gives them something to eat for two or three days.

"We're very thankful to all of the people who participate, the community who are in need are very thankful and other people have come forward to offer their efforts, money, donations and cars to help us deliver - it's all positive reactions."

To volunteer search Guru Nanak Mission at R U Volunteering.

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