Over 20 young people are temporarily employed to work at the City of Ekurhuleni’s food bank in Springs.
Since its establishment by executive mayor Clr Mzwandile Masina on April 14, the food bank has received food parcels to the value of over R7-million, with 22 292 food parcels distributed, 111 460 residents reached and 105 donors who donated consumable and non-consumable goods.
Benny Madihlaba (32) from Tsakani is one of the young people employed at the food bank through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
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His day at work starts at 8am. He convenes a short meeting with his team of seven to discuss the day’s activities.
Work at the foodbank involves receiving and sorting food items donated by various donors into different categories such as starch, vegetables, perishable and non-perishable items, and packaging them before loading them into delivery trucks ready for door-to-door deliveries.
“I am an unemployed qualified artisan. If it was not for the temporary job opportunity I got through the EPWP programme, I would also be on the list to receive the food parcels. It is for this reason I give my all when I do this job because I know the difference it makes in many people’s lives,” said Madihlaba.
“I pack each parcel with love and humility. This is my contribution to help fight hunger and distress during this uncertain time of Covid-19.”
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The city’s food bank aims to distribute food parcels to every household in all 119 informal settlements in Ekurhuleni during the lockdown period.
To date, residents in seven informal settlements have already received food parcels.
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