Source: SABCNews, 2 Mar 09
It is estimated that 19 million South Africans do not know where their next meal is coming from, according to the newly formed Food Bank South Africa, which seeks to change that.
The initiative - first launched in Cape Town - is Africa's largest food redistribution network and will provide food to millions across the country. A 600 square metre warehouse in Philippi on the Cape Flats will provide a lifeline to many providing three meals a day to more than 13 000 people.
Crispin Sonn, the chairperson of Foodbank SA, says: "Trucks effectively go out and collect the food - high quality food - but which the stores no longer wish to carry because it's getting close to its sell by date. "With nearly 400 beneficiary organisations identified in Cape Town alone, the feeding scheme is welcome relief to people such as 60 year-old Cordelia Woniwe who fosters 11 destitute children at her home. Woniwe says of the initiative: "They helped me so much. I get bread, vegetables and rice. Sometimes I get tins of stuff - three times a week."
The project will eventually reach rural areas, not just to hand out food but to empower communities with skills to produce their own. "If you don't provide it in the rural areas you're going to have a huge spike in people coming into the cities seeking basic requirements such as food," says Sonn. While Food Bank South Africa has the government's backing, the Department of Social Development is yet to receive the go-ahead from Cabinet to put much needed funding into the project.
An upcoming Global Food Banking Network will look at starting food banks in Port Elizabeth, Gauteng and Durban and will mobilise NGOs that deals with poverty issues to unite in order to form a food bank for the KZN region.
