In collaboration with several other Tamil Canadian organizations, the Tamil Canadian Centre for Civic Action (TCCCA) donated 18,792lbs of food in their second annual Thiyagi Thileepan Food Drive.
The TCCCA aimed to spread awareness of Lt Col. Thileepan's 12-day hunger strike while addressing food security in Canada. The group organized the food drive to commemorate the 34th anniversary of Thileepan's hunger strike in his fight for freedom for Tamils in Eelam.
Since Thileepan fasted for 15,918 minutes, they aimed to collect and distribute 15,918lbs of food. However, the TCCCA surpasses its goal, allowing the organization to donate 18,792lbs of food to local food banks in the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal, Quebec, Cornwall, and Ottawa.
The food drive ran from 15 September 2021 at 09:30 AM to 26 September 2021 at 10:48 AM to signify every minute of Thiyagi Thileepan's hunger strike.
"The food drive was successful because of all the organizations that helped collect funds, donations and deliver food to local food banks," the TCCCA told Tamil Guardian.
"We will continue this Food Drive. We will build on it to expand it further in the coming years. Thiyagi Thileepan's sacrifice, courage and leadership will be remembered for generations to come! Together, we continue to remember, resist and rebuild!" TCCCA Coordinator Pirathajini Chandrakumar told Tamil Guardian.
One of the many organizations that contributed to the fundraiser was the Quebec Tamil Youth Association (QTYA), which raised 755lbs of food. The organization collected community donations, purchased food from local Tamil grocery stores, and donated it to four Quebec organizations.
"Thank you again to Tamil Civic Action for allowing the Tamil diaspora to remember Thileepan Anna and his hunger strike by feeding those who are hungry around us," QTYA told Montamil.
The participating organizations: Durham Tamil Association, Ottawa Tamil Association, Tamil Passangal Society, Phoenix (Canada), Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), York University's Tamil Student Association, Ottawa Tamil Academy of Culture and Technology (OTACT), Tae E Lee Taekwondo, Tamil Nadu Multicultural Association of Canada (TMAC), Quebec Tamil Youth Association, Tamil Americans United PAC, Phoenix (Swiss), Agada Sciences, Tamil Memorial Foundation, Congee, TSU Ottawa, Canadian Tamil Coalition for Justice and Accountability, Quebec Tamil Development Association, Carleton TSA and Jarvis Sports Club.
