Norwich — The Sikh Community of Connecticut will host a protective mask giveaway from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Norwichtown Shell Station, 168 W. Town St.

April is an important month in the Sikh religion, which stresses community service, organizers said. Local leaders of the World Sikh Parliament Welfare Council host free grab-and-go community meals at 5 p.m. Fridays and Mondays outside the Royal Punjabi Restaurant, 198 Main St., Norwich.

The group is starting the face mask distribution in Bristol on Saturday and at the Norwichtown Shell Station on Monday. A third distribution will be scheduled in Hamden later next week.

Swaranjit Singh Khalsa of Norwich, owner of the Norwichtown Shell, is coordinator for UN-NGO Council of World Sikh Parliament.

“We are in this together and I am proud of my community for stepping up for ensuring people are safe and go through this critical time safely,” Khalsa said. “Last week our community leaders had virtual meeting, and we decided to celebrate and commemorate our days with acts of kindness, while all our major gatherings were canceled due to COVID-19.”

Sikhs worldwide celebrate Vaisakhi Day, which has been federally recognized as “National Sikh Day,” on April 14, and Sikhs Declaration of Independence Day on April 29.

To celebrate these days, Sikh Community of Norwich also is doing media campaign and had installed billboards in Norwich and neighboring towns that say: “Happy Vaiskahi” and “Happy Sikh Declaration of Independence Day.”

One billboard also has a sign “Stay Home, Stay Safe” applauding efforts of Gov. Ned Lamont and recognizing April as “Opposite Month.”

For more information, contact Khalsa at (757) 291-5211.