A Sikh couple on the path of Sikh teaching raised funds to create the largest mobile shower unit for homeless people in San Diego, California. Davinder Singh and his wife Harisimran Khalsa, from Sikh Dharma International founded Duwara Consciousness Foundation in 2018. The foundation initially raised funds to launch a food trailer to feed homeless people, which received a good response. The Sikh couple now with these mobile showers aim to help the homeless by fulfilling basic need of hygiene.
Harsimran Khalsa is a volunteer of Sikh Dharma International, which is a non-profit organisation which promotes Sikh teaching around the globe. While operating from New Mexico, SDI has various centres in other countries as well.
Homeless people can shower at Father Joe’s Villages in East Village, which has seven public showers for men and five for women. Now they are planning to install 16 stall of mobile shower. After raising funds they are planning to purchase 16-stall mobile shower which will be worth $30,000 and are expected to run by March 2020. They have also created donation portals for the same.
Duwara Consciousness Foundation which means “Gates to consciousness” in Sanskrit will also have a washer and dryer unit for homeless to do laundry. They have a vision to provide 30,000 showers and 7,500 loads of laundry annually.
Talking about the initiative, Davinder and Harsimran said, “Initially we started with making meals for homeless people at Oceanside’s Joe Balderrama Park, but shifted due official notice and further requested for permit to continue. Later, we founded Duwara Consciousness and spent months to raise funds for it. We achieved what we are serving today with all legalised permits. We served fresh vegetarian food at regular stops in Carlsbad, Mission Valley and downtown San Diego.”
Once the mobile showers are ready, they will be available for other uses, besides serving the homeless people. It was suggested by Harsimran Khalsa that, the shower could be used by fire fighters who are battling fires in remote locations.