Call for corporates, individuals to support Covid-19 feeding initiative

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By April 16, the foundation had delivered 6,000 food hampers to needy families, making sure youngsters don’t lose what might be their only nutritious meal of the day.

However, the demand is proving too big for the Foundation to meet alone, says its director Eugene Absolom, and he’s appealing for support from other companies that are also eager to help poor families survive the lockdown.

The foundation already has an efficient delivery system in place, knows where the greatest areas of need are, and has a list of families desperate for help. "It makes sense for other companies and donors to build on that advantage rather than waste time and money trying to replicate the rescue mission," says Absolom.

The 6,000 food hampers already distributed to families across the country include flour, pilchards, rice, beans, Morvite, oats, samp, mealie meal and milk powder. They also include soap to help with family hygiene.

"The families receiving these hampers are those whose children were already on our in-school breakfast programme. In the past few days, we have received many requests for help from other families who are also desperate for support," says Absolom.

Opportunity to broaden reach

Since the foundation has already allocated its budget to care for the learners on its in-school nutrition programme, this is the perfect opportunity for other organisations to come on board and broaden the reach, says Absolom. "Corporates and other donors can collaborate with the foundation to take this programme far beyond those 6,000 families who are already part of our breakfast programme."

"We already have an efficient distribution network reaching communities across the entire country, and we procure the goods at factory cost, which makes the foundation an ideal vehicle that other donors can partner with to make their own contribution to vulnerable communities."

With the lockdown having been extended, the country’s most vulnerable people are facing a hunger crisis. Supermarkets and spazas are already being looted in communities with high unemployment rates and where even those who had jobs have not been paid, leaving no money to buy even the bare essentials.

These vital food hampers can help to alleviate their suffering, says Absolom. "This is a critical time for South Africa and especially for its food-insecure families, I am calling for those with the means to help to step up to the task. The job is too big for any one organisation to tackle alone, but together we can make an enormous difference and help many more families survive," he says.