The Hindu Federation, in collaboration with the Canada India Foundation, undertook a Project to provide relief to those in need as a result of COVID-19.

The Project was in the form of a Delivery program to Seniors and International Students, and encompassed:

• Purchasing of grocery items
• Packaging of the groceries for delivery
• Coordination of requests from families and students through the website that was created
• Coordination of volunteers for the delivery
• Delivery of the groceries
• Cooking and packaging of the cooked food
• Delivery of the cooked food
• Follow up with the recipients 

The hub of the operation was at the Mississauga Ram Mandir, from where the requests were coordinated,  groceries stored, packages put together, food cooked, and distribution organized. The on site team included administration staff, three Pandits and one full time cook from the Mississauga Ram Mandir on a full time basis from March 13, 2020 to May 31, 2020. All of their efforts were provided on a pro bono basis.

Groceries were purchased in bulk from local suppliers, made possible by a $15,000 donation from Canada India Foundation, as well as donations from the public. A number of individuals also donated groceries with a value of approximately $5,500.

Delivery of the groceries and cooked food was done by community volunteers, as well as Hindu Federation members, and extended to Brampton, Mississauga, Rexdale, Etobicoke, Scarborough, Markham, Oakville, Cambridge and Burlington.

Over 700 grocery packages and 1,000 cooked meals were delivered to International students and Seniors during the duration of the Project. 

Some Hindu Federation members undertook their own local initiatives with respect to COVID-19. These included the Radha Krishna Mandir in Cambridge that raised over $12,000 that were donated to local hospitals.