Newest foodbank starts by serving 12 000 daily
Just-launched FoodBank Johannesburg (FoodBank Jo'burg) already provides enough meals for 12 000 hungry people every day and aims to serve a multiple of this number within months.
The newest foodbank in the FoodBank South Africa (FoodBank SA) network launched on 26 May and already distributes approximately 75 tonnes of food each month - enough to help feed needy people from more than 440 beneficiary agencies in the Johannesburg area.
Crispin Sonn, Chairperson of FoodBank SA announced to the crowd, "It is possible to eradicate hunger in our lifetime, it is possible to ensure everyone in South Africa has enough food."
Celebrations took place at the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market south of Johannesburg. Guests included representatives from the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, the Department of Education, and the Department of Social Development.
Bob Forney from the US-based Global Foodbanking Network, Jan van der Walt, Executive Director of FoodBank Jo'burg, and members of the FoodBank SA board cut the ceremonial ribbon, declaring FoodBank Jo'burg officially open for business.
"Our doors in Johannesburg are officially open," van der Walt announced to the crowd.
Children from Thushanang Early Childhood Development Centre in Belgravia, a beneficiary agency of FoodBank Johannesburg, entertained the visitors.
This is the second foodbank opened by FoodBank South Africa, a network which aims to open 20 community and rural foodbanks within the next three years. FoodBank Johannesburg operates from a 1000m² warehouse at the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market - but negotiations are in progress to increase the space to 3200m².
The FoodBank SA model, established in March 2009 after 18 months of planning, is a collaboration between the grocery products industry, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government ministries to align programmes and resources to get more food to more people. This model has been tried and tested in more than twenty countries around the world since it was conceived about 40 years ago.
Feedback Food Redistribution, Jo'burg Food Bank, and Pretoria Evangelism and Nurture have combined to create the latest foodbank.
The organisation procures good quality food, which is donated by the food and grocery industries, government agencies, individuals, and other organisations. The food is safely stored, using refrigeration where required, sorted into nutritionally sensible packages, and delivered to beneficiary agencies such as schools, soup kitchens and HIV/AIDS clinics.
"It is an immediate and urgent priority. We can't wait until tomorrow," Sonn concluded.
