CAPE TOWN - Meals on Wheels is an organisation that looks to create a 'Hunger Free South Africa' working hard throughout the lockdown with the NPO looking to further extend their reach.
The Covid-19 pandemic left many vulnerable to hardships such as hunger and unemployment leaving many families going to bed on empty stomachs. These trying times saw the beginning of many initiatives and campaigns to help those in-need with already established organisations stepping up to meet the growing need many South Africans have faced during the pandemic.
Meals on Wheels is one of South Africa's oldest non-profit organisations aiming to address hunger in South Africa with the organisation founded in 1964 but over the years has grown into one of the countries biggest charity organisations that not just provide meals for the hungry but also aims to assist struggling communities by providing them with self-sustainability and independence through workshops, skill development programmes and small-scale farms.
The NPO worked tirelessly through the pandemic to feed those in-need through their 182 branches and 700 service points throughout South Africa providing around 2 million meals a month with 120,000 meals provided each workday.
Meals on Wheels also made a difference on World Food Day, 16 October, aimed to provide 10 000 food parcels and 250 000 meals country-wide.
Yanela Takawira, Meals on Wheels’ Training and Development Manager said, “About 11 million people in South Africa do not know where their next meal will come from, or when and our aim is to serve the basic needs of the poorest of the poor, the vulnerable, the disabled and the elderly in society. Feeding the nation is our core business, and on World Food Day, it is so important to highlight the issue of hunger and malnutrition within our communities.”
Meals on Wheels Smallholder Farmer Development Project is also underway, looking to provide unemployed and young community members with skills and development to take part in farming activities and self-sustainable farming providing them with an opportunity to generate income and help their communities.
If you would like to take part in the cause or seek further information, please visit Meals on Wheels website or Facebook.
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