FREE FACE MASK DISTRIBUTION TO BE HELD MONDAY IN NORWICH

Norwich — The Sikh Community of Connecticut will hold its fourth free face mask giveaway, from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday outside the Norwichtown Shell Station, 168 W. Town St., Norwich.

The free mask distribution is part of the Connecticut World Sikh Parliament Welfare Council’s community service effort. Previous free mask distributions were held in Bristol and Norwich.

Swaranjit Singh Khalsa, owner of the Shell station and coordinator of World Sikh Parliament UN-NGO Council, said the organization’s goal is to help make sure people stay safe while the state begins to reopen some businesses and segments of the economy.

“I am Glad that our community leaders are actively participating in this time of crisis all over America and helping fellow Americans in this Crucial time,” Khalsa said in a news release announcing the mask giveaway.

Himmat Singh, coordinator of World Sikh Parliament USA, said the organization has provided free hot meals and personal protective equipment to more than 100,000 people in the past two months. Most of the group’s efforts have been in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma, California and Massachusetts.

The Sikh Community of Connecticut is sponsoring other efforts to embrace the message of healthy living, Singh Khalsa said. Billboards with the message “Stay Home, Stay Safe” are still in bus shelters on West Main Street in Norwich, and free community meals are provided from 5 to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays outside the Royal Punjabi Restaurant, 198 Main St., Norwich.

For more information regarding the programs, contact Singh Khalsa at (757) 291-5211.