Sikh community delivers hundreds of hot meals to lorry drivers stranded in Kent

In an amazing act of kindness, the Sikh community down in Kent has made hundreds of hot meals for the lorry drivers stranded there.

Hundreds of lorry drivers have been left stuck in the South of England as the border at Dover has been closed, with uncertainty over when they will be able to get moving again and Christmas looming nearer.

Sikhs from the Gravesend Gurdwara put together a massive 800 meals in less than three hours, before distributing them to the hungry drivers, Kent Online reports.

The volunteers were working with Sikh humanitarian charity Khalsa Aid, cooking up 500 chickpea curries and 300 mushroom and pasta dishes.

Khalsa Aid founder Ravinder Singh then collected them and handed the dishes out, alongside the local police.

Jagdev Singh Virdee, a spokesman for the Guru Nanak Darbar, told Kent Online: “They [Khalsa Aid] got in touch this morning about 12 o’clock and by 2.30pm they came to collect the food.

“We made some phone calls to get volunteers together because we are already doing Langar, where we deliver to vulnerable people.”

People were quick to praise the group’s actions on social media, with one person writing: “Wonderful work. Thank you for once again helping those in need and providing delicious meals and a sense of some comfort to our essential workers who’re stranded.”

Another user added: “Thank you on behalf of all of us British who are ashamed of our government’s failure to organise properly. Thank you for showing the true spirit of love and compassion.”

@Khalsa_Aid / Twitter

Drivers are being urged to avoid travelling to Kent at this time.

A spokesperson for Kent County Council said: “With the help of Kent Resilience Forum agencies, we were able to give out snacks and drinking water through Monday ahead of drivers being able to access welfare facilities at Manston as part Operation Brock planning.

“Though hauliers are routinely well prepared for disruption, while French borders remain closed it remains important that people avoid travelling to Kent.”