WATCH: Rotary Club teams up with NPO to feed Blackburn Village residents
Vanessa Champion of the Rotary Club of Umhlanga said this was made possible by a donation of 11 tons of rice which will be able to feed up 250 000 people in communities around KZN.
THE Rotary Club of Umhlanga co-ordinated for TPA Humanity to hand out 1 000 meals to residents of Blackburn Village Informal Settlement on Thursday.
The hot, nutritious meals were cooked by Food for Life.
Vanessa Champion of the Rotary Club of Umhlanga said, Theasen Pillay and his team collected 11 tons of rice from the community, which will provide meals for more than 250 000 people in communities around KZN.
“Ward councillor, Nicole Bollman was kind enough to help us with organising the feeding at Blackburn Village Informal Settlement where there is such a great need. This may be the only meal that some people eat for the week sadly,” Champion explained.
Volunteers also distributed meals to victims of a recent shack fire at the settlement which left 85 families homeless and destitute.
“They lost everything so we said besides feeding hundreds of children, we wanted to help those affected by the devastating blaze. Going forward we’d love the support of the community and if they are able to help. We are currently looking for oil and rice which will aid us in this feeding programme and help Theasen’s vision.
“Today’s relief was a direct result of the efforts of fellow Rotarian Theasen Pillay, who began a initiative called ‘Thankful Thursdays’ in memory of his dad.
This is the outcome that can be achieved when a community comes together. Anyone wanting to get involved or wanting to contribute can contact TPA Humanity spokesperson Lisa Sukdev on 0839374171 or lisa@icommunicate.co.za
TPA Humanity has included Rotary beneficiaries in the meal distribution plan.
“Through their generosity, Rotary aims to distribute 1 000 meals a week to various schools and communities in need. We’ve identified a disadvantaged school in Mount Edgecombe and a community in Waterloo who we feel could benefit from this feeding scheme. We will work out a schedule going forward to help those in need,” she said.
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