The Sikh community has rallied together to make sure truckers, currently stuck due to the border closure, don't go hungry.
More than 800 free hot meals were made this afternoon by the Gravesend Gurdwara who turned around the massive order in just under three hours.
Inside the Gravesend Gurdwara as volunteers assemble 800 meals for stranded lorry drivers in Kent
Volunteers rallied together at the Gurdwara's Langar kitchen to put together the dishes at short notice.
They are working with Sikh humanitarian relief charity Khalsa Aid to come to the aid of lorry drivers currently trapped due to the closure of the border at Dover.
Temple leaders received the call around midday and sprung into action as part of a collective effort with local authorities including Kent Police and Kent County Council.
Spokesman for the Guru Nanak Darbar Jagdev Singh Virdee said: "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."
Together, volunteers rallied to make 500 chickpea curries and 300 mushroom and pasta dishes.
Khalsa Aid founder Ravinder Singh then arranged to pick up the meals from the Gravesend Gurdwara and deliver them to the hungry truckers with the help of a Kent Police escort.
The act of kindness comes as more than 1,000 HGVs are parked in the county, filling laybys and roadsides as well as the 4,000-capacity airport site.
Meanwhile talks continue with the French government to reopen the border as more than 1,000 lorries remain stranded in Kent, amid fears the new coronavirus strain is 'out of control'.
All freight and passenger traffic has been banned from entering France with hauliers redirected to a makeshift lorry park at Manston Airport and plans being drawn up to test drivers before they cross the Channel in a mass programme co-ordinated by the military.
Hundreds of lorries are also sat on the M20 after Operation Brock went live.
Lorries in operation Stack on the M20. Picture: Barry Goodwin (
The coastguard was today seen driving down the M20 in between rows of queueing lorries and handing out bottled water.
Kent County Council, with the help of Kent Resilience Forum agencies, distributed snacks and drinking water yesterday ahead of drivers being able to access welfare facilities at Manston as part Operation Brock planning.
At Dover this morning drivers were bursting with frustration and honking horns as they approach the port only to be sent packing.
Avoid getting stuck on Kent's roads by keeping up-to-date on all of the latest traffic and travel news here or by following our live blog.
Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend
Read more: All the latest news from Kent
Bartmoss on December 22nd, 2020 at 22:05 UTC »
Such a great people. A couple of Sikhs helped me out once. I got stuck in a town I didn't know after my train was late and I missed the last connecting train. Out of no where these two guys showed up, invited me to stay at their place in a spare room they just happened to have, they also gave me dinner, pajamas, and even a toothbrush. I asked them why they are so helpful, they simply said "we are Sikh, it is our way". I'll never forget that.
moooosicman on December 22nd, 2020 at 21:17 UTC »
Punjabi Sikhs are currently holding the BIGGEST PROTEST IN HUMAN HISTORY, and no one is listening. I want to use this post to bring awareness to the fact that Punjabi Sikhs, along with other farmers from India are protesting 3 new draconian laws passed in India by the far right Modi government, which would allow multi billionaire Mukesh Ambani (4th richest man in the world), to exploit the lands of Punjab and get rid of minimum support prices.
While the protesters who are majority Punjabi Sikhs protest in New Delhi, they have set up communal kitchens, which have been feeding the surrounding slums children for the last 23 days, set up temporary schools for the impoverished children, and have donated blood, food, and clothing to all. link
The Sikhs have been attacked by police by water cannon, batons, and tear gas, but have said they will not return home until the bills are repealed or they are sent back in coffins. link
This protest is getting no attention because Ambani, who owns something around 5 billion dollars worth of Facebook stock has been lobbying social media groups to censor Sikhs, and have flooded #Sikh with pornographic images.
Please bring awareness to this issue my friends. My ancestors are dying.
More Info
This photographer has been doing an amazing job capturing the mood of the protests
Edit: Thank you for your love and support. Please however don't spend money giving me awards. Instead share and make awareness about the plight of these farmers. Thank You !!
wittyusernamefailed on December 22nd, 2020 at 20:21 UTC »
Sikh's are consistently awesome to the community.