- FoodBank South Africa is leading a large-scale co-ordinated effort to establish a national network of community foodbanks to feed South Africa's hungry.
What is a foodbank? A foodbank is an organisation which acts on behalf of all of the -- potentially hundreds of -- social services organisations ("Agencies") which may be operating in its area. The foodbank procures food (and some other groceries), which are principally donated by the food and grocery industries, government agencies, individuals and other organisations. The foodbank defaces the branding to protect the interests of the donors. The foodbank safely stores this food in hygienic conditions, using refrigeration where required, sorts it into nutritionally sensible packages, and makes it available or delivers it to the Agencies.
By acting on behalf of all the Agencies in their area, the foodbank achieves huge economies of scale. It cultivates food sourcing and distribution professionalism, which enables it to source and distribute massively increased volumes for the Agencies, at a far lower cost.
FoodBank Cape Town launched on 2 March 2009, and is Sub-Saharan Africa's first foodbank. FoodBank Johannesburg, FoodBank Durban and FoodBank PE followed with their launches on 26 May, 21 July and 22 Sep 2009 respectively. Several other South African cities will launch their own foodbanks soon.
We're helping the rural areas too. Each of the major urban foodbanks being formed in South Africa is intended to directly serve an area within a 100km of that foodbank. In addition, these foodbanks are expected to take responsibility for a broader area spanning a 300km radius, for example by helping to nurture satellite foodbanks in that area.
That will help to address hunger in a large portion of rural South Africa, but we will do more. Smaller communities, including rural villages, will soon form foodbanks. These rural foodbanks will bring more food to South Africans in need and facilitate distribution of rural produce to urban markets, helping rural economies to grow.
And there's more. To achieve even greater impact we formed FoodBank South Africa, a national body serving our foodbanks. FoodBank South Africa will offer efficiencies such as engaging with our largest food and other donors on a national level. It will harness the support of national, provincial and traditional government. It will also assure the quality of foodbank operations to protect donors and the people who eat the food we source and distribute. Only those foodbanks which adhere to standards agreed with FoodBank South Africa will be entitled to use become "Certified Member Foodbanks" and to use our logo. We intend that in time our name and logo will enjoy a deserved reputation for quality and integrity.
We are not alone. Dozens of countries around the world have already implemented their own national foodbanking networks. We are partnering with and learning from other national foodbanking systems thanks to the support we receive from the Global FoodBanking Network.
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