Abraham Kriel Bambanani pleads for support as the need increases even further
“It is a privilege to be used as the hands and feet of caring South Africans now and for as long as it is needed.”
Since the start of lockdown, the number of beneficiaries who rely on Abraham Kriel Bambanani (AKB) for survival has quadrupled, placing the organisation’s resources under enormous pressure.
At the start of the lockdown, AKB provided 605 children and youth in the communities of Westbury and Soweto with a daily meal.
However, these numbers tripled to 1 781 within a few weeks, with entire families now also in need of food. At the start of the lockdown, the decision was made to replace daily meals with food parcels.
“The estimation was that the food parcels would last for a month, but barely 10 days later we started receiving the first desperate calls for help,” said Paul Momsen, Abraham Kriel Bambanani’s CEO.
“Because other family members (whose income sources had also dried up) now shared in the parcels, the food had run out much sooner.” In addition, hundreds more people were begging for food when the team delivered the newly packed food parcels.
Fortunately, AKB received a major donation of bread, potatoes and maize that they were able to distribute to another 860 people. The organisation was also able to provide their Grade 12 learners with data (and even a cellphone) donated by donors for the learners to continue their studies.
A big thank you from Abraham Kriel Bambanani
“Throughout this challenging time, the big heart of the South African public has once again become evident,” said Momsen.
“The management and staff of AKB would like to thank everyone who helped us provide to those in desperate need.
“The organisation is deeply grateful for the support and donations and thank you, also, for caring about all our normal programmes that continue under increasingly difficult circumstances,” said Momsen.
“It is a privilege to be used as the hands and feet of caring South Africans now and for as long as it is needed.
“As Christians, we see it as a duty bestowed by God to reach out to our fellow South Africans enduring terrible hardship.
“Thank you for entrusting us with your funds and goods to be distributed for the benefit of desperately needy people.”
How to support Abraham Kriel Bambanani
The lockdown and the economic hardships are far from over, and the organisation continues to appeal to donors to assist, where possible.
To find out more about Abraham Kriel Bambanani, please visit their website at www.abrahamkriel.org or call Hilda du Toit
