Sikhcess | Change The World

Multiple “D’s” Team Up To Give Thanks

In harsh economic times, who would have thought that two “unlikely” organizations would team up to help feed the needy this Thanksgiving?

On Sunday, November 22nd, The Detroit Medical Center (DMC) and Detroit Public Schools (DPS) helped serve a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with special-care packages for guests at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries’ (DRMM) Oasis shelter. Residents from Sinai-Grace Hospital and Adult Education Students put on their aprons, gloves, and hairnets and got down to cooking!

Sikhcess was responsible in bringing this event together for 3rd straight year. Sikhcess has been giving “thanks” to the city of Detroit since the inception of the organization. In 2007, Sikhcess collected over 3,000 clothing items and prepared over 10,000 food packages to give to various shelters and to people who live on the street – providing warmth and healthy, nutritious food to those who are less fortunate. The Detroit Rescue Mission, and other similar shelters have their own challenges, and so historically, Sikhcess has worked to lighten that burden. This has been done this by introducing brand new people to volunteer to work with, and at the shelters, where campaign names like “Bundles of Warmth”, “Packages of Love”, and “Feed the Homeless” are recognized in across the city as being identified with a movement of service called “Sikhcess”.

This past event took on a different outlook as volunteers came together to help shop for, cook up, and serve a warm Thanksgiving meal to the Oasis Shelter residents and guests. The Detroit Medical Center helped donate the supplies as Students from Detroit Public Schools lead the service operations. The Oasis’s regular staff was pleased to see such a huge turnout of nearly 40 volunteers!

In the spirit of thanks, 15 children gathered the night before to organize and assemble 400 ‘Packages of Love’, made up of bars of soap, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, and a lot of love to distribute to the homeless and needy in the City of Detroit. Taking extra time, they hand-packaged each carefully to make sure that those who were served felt their radiating love inside each bag. The kids felt great to be involved to help people, and had a lot of fun too!

At the end of the day, it felt magical to witness such a remarkable showing of giving. Sikhcess has such a strong connection with the city of Detroit. The reason is that in every instance, our volunteers do their best to help educate the citizens at this, and other shelters – and people recognize and appreciate that. As a resident of the Metro-Detroit area and proud child of the ‘D’, I had always thought of giving back, and Sikhcess offers me, and so many others around the world a chance to do just that in an effortless manner.

Watch the kids in action below!

Written by Kartav Patel.