The non-governmental organisation (NGO) Food For Life’s Midrand branch, which is en route to changing people’s lives one meal at a time, had already reached its target of 50 000 meals for the year in June, and the NGO is now well on its way to reaching a goal of 100 000 meals by December this year.
Once again as part of their feeding initiative which they host once a month, the Food For Life Midrand team visited the Ivory Park Region 2 offices on 18 August to feed over 1 000 community members.
Phina Roy, the founder of Bantu Bambanani non-profit organisation who works with Food For Life, said that Bantu Bambanani was one of four non-profit organisations which operate at the building.
“What we do is care for orphans, vulnerable children and the elderly in our community. We give them food, clothes and blankets among other things, and help refer them to clinics, home affairs and any organisations they need to go to concerning their problems.”
There are a lot of people who visit their offices but one of the challenges they face, according to Roy, is that they battle to get enough sponsors on board. “If it wasn’t for Food For Life [Midrand], we would have been left stranded,” she added. “With assistance from Food For Life [Midrand], we are able to feed close to 300 people in total – 200 or more children who come to our after-school programme as well as about 100 elderly citizens who join us after their Golden Oldies programme.”
Roy further explained, “Currently, we need assistance with fetching food from the Food For Life [Midrand centre], and we would also appreciate donations to help extend our shelter where we feed our community members because it does not accommodate many people and the rainy season is upon us.”
She urged anyone who wants to volunteer or donate, to contact her on 065 882 4030 or to visit the Ivory Park Region 2 offices in Ivory Park on August Drive. Midrand Food For Life representative chairperson, Vinesh Maharaj, explained that Food For Life was a national organisation which was also affiliated with Food for Life Global – the largest feeding organisation worldwide. Maharaj said, “We only feed [fresh, nutritional] vegetarian food as we contribute to a] sustainable planet.” He explained that the Ivory Park Region 2 Offices project is one of three Food for Life Midrand programmes which are simultaneously run from the Midrand-based feeding centre because their objective is to create a hunger-free society. “With our work with Roy, we want children to study on a full stomach so
they can be properly educated, so we can create [an equitable society in future that uplifts everyone].”
Maharaj explained how they started working with Phina Roy of Bantu Bambanani. A Food for Life volunteer, Mariah Mtoto, advised them that her neighbours needed help with food, and this resulted in the street feed on August Drive. After this, they spoke to the councillor and Phina Roy who welcomed them into the Ivory Park Region 2 Offices.
“We did some research with Roy and other community members in Rabie Ridge, President Park and Ivory Park and we found that these places were in need of 10 000 plates of food per day – mainly schoolchildren, and the elderly.
“Our object is 10 000 plates a day [of food in the future]. Currently, we are doing 8 000 plates per month. We also need support from the corporate sector to assist us in fulfilling our vision of 10 000 plates a day.”
“Because of Mandela Day activities, we managed to do a record of 12 000 plates in July, thus contributing towards reaching our target of 100 000 meals for this year. “We want to thank all our volunteers in assisting us to reach our halfway target for this year, and we are on track to double this for 2019.”
Details: Vinesh Maharaj 083 792 6518.
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