Source: South Africa: The Good News feed, 15 Apr 09
For food-secure South Africans the problem of hunger is often underestimated, but according to Food Bank SA’s Executive Director Geoff Penny, more than 14 million South Africans don’t know where their next meal will come from.
In response to the prevalent food security challenges, three existing food services NGOs have come together to form FoodBank SA. The independent organisation seeks to reduce hunger by procuring and storing quality food for distribution to those who are in need of basic food support.
Based on a food security model promoted by the Global FoodBanking Network, FoodBank SA will act as the national governing body for a network of community-based FoodBanks, the first of which was established in March 2009 in Cape Town.The community FoodBanks as well as the national body actively procure food on behalf of agencies (social services organisations and NGOs) operating in the area of food security. Food is mainly acquired through donations from major retailers and manufacturers as well as government agencies, private organisations and individuals. The food is then stored safely and sorted into nutritional packages before being made available or delivered to relevant agencies.
Over the next three years, FoodBank SA plans to open 20 FoodBanks around the country and increase its food supply by five-fold, says Penny.
“What we really want to do is halve hunger over the next five years and eventually eradicate hunger all together. But we have to be realistic. There are other factors involved such as drought and food prices. But we do believe we will make a difference to food security in South Africa,” he adds.
In addressing their own mandate to eradicate hunger, the South African government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FoodBank SA, showing their support of the programme.
"There are many children who go to bed without food in this country, millions in fact,” said Minister of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya at the signing ceremony, "but government working with local business can work towards solving this problem."
The signing ceremony also saw Cargill, a US producer and marketer of food and agricultural products and services, announce their financial support of the programme. Cargill will present cheques to FoodBank Cape Town and FoodBank SA, totalling more than R1 million.
FoodBank SA is supported by the Global FoodBanking Network, which has operations in 15 countries including Canada, USA, UK, Brazil, India, Japan and Ghana.
