West Bloomfield Grad Helps Organize Sikh Day of Service

Patch editor Aysha Jamali contributed to this report. 

West Bloomfield High alum Balbir Singh was working in California last year when he learned that half a dozen Sikh worshippers had been killed in an attack near Milwaukee, WI. 

The 2008 graduate helped coordinate a special day of service Saturday to commemorate the tragedy's one-year anniversary. Sikhs from around metro Detroit gathered at the Sikh Society of Michigan, a gurdwara in Sterling Heights, to pack 20,000 meals that will feed families through Kids Against Hunger, an Oak Park-based nonprofit. 

The event was one among many that took place across the country, including a 6K Memorial Walk and Run held by the Oak Creek, WI Sikh community.

Singh, who works as operations manager for New York-based The Sikh Coalition, said the 2012 attack was "a pretty big shock". The response of his brothers and sisters in the Sikh community, he said, also left him inspired.

"We were able to get a Senate hearing about domestic terrorism," Singh said. "There hadn't been a hearing in more than five years."

The Coalition also started tracking hate crimes and advocating for issues like the right to wear religious headgear, which also affects people of other cultures and religions, he said. 

"These are not only issues for Sikhs ... Whenever we take on issues, we always approach them as human rights issues," Singh said. 

He said the spirit of inclusion also extended to the day of service; several interfaith groups participated. 

'We're always supposed to serve'

Harnoor Singh, 15, student at Northville High School, was among the Sikh volunteers. He said they packed small bags of dried rice, soy and vegetables that needy families can use to make soup or porridge.

The volunteers worked in the gurdwara's langar hall, he said.

"In the langar hall, every time there is a gathering for service, we give out langar. Basically, it’s a free meal we put out for the community," Singh said.

The langar hall, a staple in gurdwaras, speaks to the generosity encouraged in Sikhism. 

"We chose this kind of service because essentially it’s a main tenet of Sikhism. We're always supposed to serve," he said.