Key Points
- Charity Turbans 4 Australia has gone from food relief in the pandemic to food relief due to rising living costs.
- Families collecting food parcels were worried they would not be able to give their families Christmas celebrations.
- Amar Singh doesn't celebrate Christmas but his charity aims to help those who are this year.
Amar Singh may not celebrate Christmas — but the man who was this year named Australia's local hero is ensuring those struggling to make ends meet this festive season won't miss out.
The past few weeks has seen Singh's charity Turbans 4 Australia see "unprecedented demand" for its food parcels.
"People are telling us that they're putting off family gatherings because they just can't afford to host people," he told SBS News.
Turbans 4 Australia organised a Christmas toy drive in 2022, for those in Lismore, an area that was devastated by floods that year. Source: Supplied / Turbans 4 Australia
With Christmas approaching, the organisation has now added to its many initiatives in order to ensure people facing tough financial circumstances can celebrate the festive season.
Christmas lunch and gifts
Singh, who migrated to Australia from India in his teens, founded Turbans 4 Australia in 2015.
and this year his charity work became a full-time job.
"We were doing and then that sort of has carried on into what now is the cost of living crisis, where people are struggling to put food on the table," Singh said.
and
Turbans 4 Australia is expanding its services this Christmas after experiencing higher demand for food parcels.
"People who come pick up the grocery hampers have (also) been asking (us), "With Christmas, are you going to have any toys, we really want to give our grandkids or the kids in the family something'," he said.
About 200 people come to collect food hampers given out by Turbans 4 Australia in Sydney each week. Source: Supplied / Turbans 4 Australia
The Christmas lunches will be held in Melbourne and Sydney in the lead up to Christmas, with toy hampers to be provided to families who attend.
About 250 people have registered for the Sydney event and almost 70 for the Melbourne event.
Toy drives have also been launched to provide families with gifts for their children.
Singh said he knew the events would be important for many people.
"I've had people break down in tears, waiting for food and say, 'Thank you for looking after us'," he said.
"This is unprecedented demand that we're seeing."
'It's about putting smiles on kids faces'
Being Sikh-led, many Turbans 4 Australia volunteers, including Singh, do not celebrate Christmas themselves.
"But it’s something we do for others," Singh said.
"We have other festivities on during the time but at the end of the day it is not so much about people who celebrate Christmas or not, but it is about putting a smile on kids' faces and families to say, 'Look, it's okay'.”
Singh said the end of December was considered a kind of 'mourning period' for Sikh people.
"The last prophet, the tenth prophet, his kids passed away in that month.
"Two of them died in a battle against the Islamic invaders of Punjab and two other younger ones were forced into accepting another way of life and were buried alive.
"So it is a month of mourning but also by giving back, that acknowledges the sacrifice as well."
Singh said many Sikh people acknowledged the period by visiting their temple, with many Australian-based Sikhs returning to India to visit families.
He said many who had not seen their families for the past four years due to the pandemic, would be looking forward to visiting India during this period, although he said there may be some who would have to put off their travels depending on their financial situation.
Turbans 4 Australia is taking registrations for the Christmas lunch events from those who collect food parcels from the organisation, but anyone is welcome to attend on the day.
The Sydney event will be held on 10 December and the Melbourne event, on 17 December.
