Albury's Talwinder Singh on Sikh support group's charitable work

In fact you could say it runs in their blood.

And that's exactly what members of the local Australian Sikh Support Group have been channelling with their decision to start giving blood.

Albury's Talwinder Singh, the NSW co-ordinator of the group, said they had been trying to do their part to help support the region's recovery after the 2019 bushfires and more recently the impacts of COVID-19.

Originating in India in the 15th century, Sikhism is a religion that emphasises selfless service, or "Seva", and making the world a better and more prosperous place.

That ethos is what led to the group's creation.

"Our main goals are to help the needy and just humanity in general, it's in our blood," Mr Singh said.

"After the bushfires we distributed food and water to Albury, Wodonga, Tallangatta, Corryong and Wangaratta.

"We had two or three trucks' worth of food and water delivered during the bushfires."

But during recent COVID lockdowns the group struggled to continue with devotion to duty - that was until Arjun Jayee had the idea of donating blood.

"We've been giving blood here for the last year-and-a-half," Mr Jayee said.

"One guy was too scared so we went with him to help him through it.

"We feel like that's a huge milestone for us, he was too scared to give blood and now he's going by himself and donating blood regularly."

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Mr Jayee believes helping people is part of the fabric of Sikh life.

"We belong to a community and a religion that just bonds with helping people," he said.

"We're taking from the community and are a part of it, so it's our responsibility to give something back."

Mr Singh emphasised that just because the group's name references Sikhs, it doesn't mean the group only wants to help members of their own community.

"If any community, or any people need help we are all there," he said.

"And anyone who wants to help is welcome."