Winnipeg Sikh community puts together care packages for victims of domestic violence

Members of Winnipeg's Sikh community were looking to show some love and care for victims of domestic violence ahead of Valentine's Day.

 About two dozen people were at the Valley Gardens Community Centre Sunday putting together care packages for women and children in shelters.

The Winnipeg gathering is part of multiple events hosted in cities across the country by the World Sikh Organization of Canada in partnership with community groups. Every year to mark Feb. 14, baked goods, Valentine cards, chocolates and personal care items are donated to women's shelters to raise awareness about family violence.

"Valentine's is all about love and giving. I think it's a great day to give back," said Aman Sidhu, who runs a home day care in the city. She helped assemble the packages this year.

"Every chance we have to give back to the community, we should definitely do it."

This is the sixth year the event is being held in the city. Organizers said the charity is in the spirit of Langar, the communal meals served for free at Sikh temples.

"Sikh culture, we have this spirit of generosity and giving to others, giving back to the community," said Sheena Gurm, a volunteer with Sikh Heritage Manitoba and one of the people who helped run the event.

"That's one of the things that keeps us going and keeps us motivated, which ... kind of speaks to the purpose of doing all these efforts."

The events are part of the One Billion Rising, a global campaign whose name refers to a UN statistic saying one in three women will be raped or beaten in their lifetime.

"Those are the people who need love — a lot," Gurm said. "We need to spread joy to them."

Organizers say they also want to raise awareness about the resources available for victims of domestic violence, including the World Sikh Organization's Sikh Family Helpline.

More than 200 care packages were put together at Valley Gardens this year.