Holiday food drive scheduled Saturday in Pacoima

A Sikh American nonprofit organization is hosting a holiday food drive Saturday for 500 low-income families in Pacoima.

The Khalsa Care Foundation is sponsoring the event from noon to 2 p.m. at the Sikh Temple, 9989 Laurel Canyon Blvd., officials said. The organization provides community services for children, youth and adults.

Organizers and volunteers will distribute free bags of food, toiletries, clothes, toys and more to the hundreds of families gathered during Saturday’s event.

“We are excited to host this event each year for local families in need,” said Surinder Singh, a member of the Sikh community and KCF secretary. “We have a food drive at our temple every Friday, but this event is our largest because it draws hundreds of families.”

About 17% of households in Pacoima are at or below poverty level, according to 2010 Census data. A recent study by the Center for Southern California Studies at Cal State Northridge showed that the proportion of families living at or below the poverty level remains extremely high in the northeast San Fernando Valley, with Pacoima exceeding countywide averages.

The Sikh American community holds as one of its core tenets the importance of selfless community service, organizers said in a statement. In the past, it has provided food and needed items to the Fred Jordan Mission on skid row, but in recent years, the Sikh community has looked to support local families and neighbors in Pacoima through a holiday community event at its Sikh temple, or gurdwara, as part of “seva,” selfless service to others.

“This event gives us an opportunity to do something positive for our neighbors, to get to know them and so that they can get to know us. We work in partnership with local schools to support our community and help local families,” Singh said.

carlos.lozano@latimes.com