Portuguese Forum bringing huge multi-cultural food drive to town

There is not doubt the spirit of ubuntu is alive and well during the pandemic. Communities across Ekurhuleni after all are benefiting from acts of compassion and humanity.

However, the Portuguese community perhaps knows how to do it best, which is evident by an extraordinary event to be hosted by the Portuguese Forum on the East Rand on September 6.

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The Social Solidarity Food Drive is coming to town and its impact is going to be massive – not only physically in the display of vehicles and people involved, but also on hunger relief efforts in Gauteng.

The event will be held in Parkhaven, just off Atlas Road (Boksburg), from 9am, and high-ranking government officials, other dignitaries and the media are on the guest list.

All cultural community groups are invited to be part of the food drive.

National president of the Portuguese Forum of South Africa Manny Ferreirinha, who is a Benoni businessman, explained the forum recognises the enormous need among the poor as a result of Covid-19.

“Many people have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and, sadly, this shows no signs of changing.

“We believe food banks and community support are an integral and viable solution to defeat hunger and change lives,” he said.

“For this reason, we decided it essential to organise a food drive in conjunction with and supported by all other South African cultural groups, in order to mobilise communities to stand together to fight hunger.

“The aim is to pool the resources of the many Portuguese and other farmers, NPOs and the general public so that in a massive drive-by collection, they can bring their donations to one place.”

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Ferreirinha reiterated that while the event is being planned on large scale and will, in all likelihood, involve trucks, motorbikes and vehicles, the organisers have had Covid-19 and government regulations front and centre in all their planning.

“We are taking this very seriously and anyone participating can be assured the event will be 100 per cent Covid-19 compliant.”

Charities approved by the organisers to benefit from the food drive are Hospice, SPCA and Salvation Army.

He added a lot of farmers, corporates, motorbike clubs and others have already committed to be part of the event.

How it will work

• The structure of the event is that farmers and corporate companies will drive their trucks full of donations of food to the venue and park until the ribbon cutting ceremony has been conducted.
•  They will then immediately depart for various government food banks to drop off these donations.
• At the venue, space will be allocated to the various cultural communities and established charity groups to set up a marquee to receive donations from the public.
• The public arrives in vehicles/on motorbikes and can then drive through the venue and drop donations at the community group or charity organisation of their choice.
• -No member of the public will be allowed to leave their vehicle – this a strictly drive through donation event.
• Not all trucks have to bring donations of food. Corporates can be part of the event by making a monetary donation towards this hunger relief effort and having their truck there for branding.

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“We believe this will be a drive to aid the poorest of the poor, but also a way to show that there are many, often unacknowledged, organisations who do a great deal to help and it is these people that make South Africa great,” Ferreirinha said.

“This is a drive that comes from the heart and what it means to be a community. The Portuguese Forum urges all other cultural groups to join hands with us in the food drive and embrace the spirit of ubuntu.”

About the Portuguese Forum

The Portuguese Forum of South Africa was established in 2001 as a national NPO that supports and works with government and the provincial, municipal and other authorities in order to advocate and empower Portuguese South Africans, as well as address the many growing needs of the Portuguese community in SA.

The forum is committed to serving the community through increasingly active government relations efforts, the promotion of a greater awareness of ethnic accomplishments and encouraging stronger ties between the Republic of Portugal and the Republic of South Africa.

As such, it strives to advance the community professionally, politically and culturally while ensuring that issues directly affecting the Portuguese community are addressed through its network of government and community leaders.

Charities approved of by the Portuguese Forum

• Grupo de Beneficencia de La Rochelle
• Grupo Madre Teresa de La Rochelle
• Lion Carlos Magalhanes Feeding Scheme Light House
• ARK Angels
• Maria’s Angels Foundation
• Bienvenu Shelter

The charities work in several different areas to feed orphans, old age homes and run feeding schemes.

For more information about the Social Solidarity Food Drive on September 6, contact 073 546 9528.

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Contact the newsroom by emailing:Editor at germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za.

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