Source: The Citizen, 31 May 09
PULENG MASHABANE
JOHANNESBURG - Thousands of poverty stricken families now have access to healthy food, thanks to the recently-launched FoodBank Johannesburg.
FoodBank has up to date managed to provide food parcels to 12 000 needy people from more than 440 beneficiary agencies in the Johannesburg area daily.
Based at the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market, the FoodBank SA model established in March, resulted from a collaboration between the grocery products industry, non-governmental organisations and government ministries to align programmes and resources to get more food to more people.
The organisation procures good quality food, donated by the food and grocery industries, government agencies, individuals, and other organisations and then delivers it to places like schools, soup kitchens and HIV/Aids clinics.
FoodBank SA's chairman Crispin Sonn, said: "It is impossible to eradicate hunger in our lifetime. It is however possible to ensure everyone in South Africa has enough food."
The launch was attended by government representatives such as Neo Rankwena, director of the National School Nutrition Programme from the Department of Education and Mondli Mbhele, Department of Social Development.
United States' Global Foodbanking Network representative, Bob Forney, was among the participants in the ceremonial ribbon cutting.
He was joined by Johannesburg Foodbank's executive director, Jan van der Walt, and members of the Foodbank SA board.
Johannesburg is the second foodbank opened by Foodbank SA.
The network aims to open 20 South African banks within the next three years.
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