Free food on Fourth Street
A local restaurant owner decided to help the homeless instead of chasing them from his shop.
Instead of giving them the boot, a local restaurant owner welcomes the homeless and needy to his shop and gives them food.
“People come to the shop and donate a meal to the needy. We place a sticker, with the donated meal written on it, on a noticeboard and when a needy person asks for food, we serve them a plate of whatever was donated and take the sticker off the board,” Eric Morgan, Fish and Chips Take Away restaurant owner told the News.
The idea to help the homeless came about when Eric watched a television show where a pizza restaurant in New York did the same.
“I thought I could make a difference by doing the same. I have lived above real social issues for too long, so it’s time I help.”
According to Rozane Erasmus, one of Eric’s employees, people in the area truly are generous.
“Some even give us R200,” she said.
Naturally, one would think the message of free food would spread like wildfire among the homeless and the flow of people asking for food might become overbearing, but Eric said, “I don’t have a problem with that. As long as there are stickers on the board, I don’t mind who comes into the shop.”
However, food is given on two conditions only – they must eat the meal inside the shop, and if they smell like alcohol they will miss out on a free meal. Eric explained that he wants his food to be eaten, not sold.
Rozane, who has been working in the food industry for over 20 years, told the News she has witnessed food being thrown away by restaurants.
“The food is still edible, but the owners don’t see it as a loss because it already is paid for.”
If you would like to support Eric’s initiative, you can sponsor a plate of food at the Fish and Chips Take Away on Fourth Street. You can make a difference as well – one plate of food at a time.
Related articles:
• In their shoes: a night on the street
• Sponsor some warmth this winter
