FoodBank South Africa

FoodBank SA targets 20 foodbanks within three years

An agreement that will help feed the poor in South Africa was signed today between the Departments of Social Development and Agriculture, and representatives of FoodBank South Africa (FoodBank SA).

"There are many children who go to bed without food in this country - millions in fact", said Minister of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya, "But government working with local business can work towards solving this problem."

The signing is a strong indication that the government is preparing to allocate millions in funds and resources to help spark South Africa's new foodbanking network.

Alan Gilbertson, Managing Director of FoodBank South Africa added, "With adequate support from government and the private sector, we could launch 20 foodbanks within three years."

FoodBank SA and FoodBank Cape Town (FoodBank CT) hosted an event at the Philippi warehouse in the morning to celebrate.

Soli Philander, Master of Ceremonies, introduced keynote speakers including the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Dr. Jean Swanson-Jacobs, and Bob Forney, President Emeritus of the Global FoodBanking Network.

Hundreds of guests attended, including leaders of industry such as Wendy Ackerman, Suzanne Ackerman-Berman and Roddy Sparks.

Jenni Kelman, a representative of Cargill, an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial, and industrial products and services will present two cheques to the FoodBanks, one for $50 000 and another for $69 000 (totaling more than R1 million).

"Cargill has participated in the development of Foodbank South Africa, since its inception. Safe, nutritious, accessible food supplies are a core focus of Cargill's community engagement strategy and we are delighted to be supporting Foodbank South Africa to provide food to people most in need," said Kelman.

FoodBank Cape Town, already the largest FoodBank in Africa, is the first in a series of Section 21 companies to be developed over the next few months in major urban centres throughout the country. FoodBank Johannesburg is set to open by the end of May 2009.

FoodBank Cape Town sources and transports good quality excess food to its 600m² Philippi warehouse, then stores and distributes it to beneficiary agencies within a 300km from the city centre, providing food to those who would otherwise have nothing to eat.

FoodBank SA is also working to open rural foodbanks under the guidance of Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana.  As he noted "It is critical and urgent to address hunger in our rural areas-but the solution goes hand in hand with establishing the urban foodbanks because these will create a market for the produce we will help rural South Africans to grow."