One hundred families from the Jabulani and Baipei informal settlements received food packs from the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Wednesday, 25 September.
According to Mmaboinamo Tolo of the church, this was an effort by the church to alleviate poverty in the communities.
She added that the initiative was spearheaded by the welfare ministry of the church.
“The purpose of today’s event was simply to reach out to the needy. This also forms part of our annual convention, when we come together as the church every year to thank the Lord for the year,” Mmaboinamo said.
She went on to say the initiative is not only about handing over food products to the poor, but consists of programmes through which the community is given motivational speeches about finding ways they can sustain themselves.
“You do not just hand a person a fish, you teach him how to catch one,” Mmaboinamo added.
“You do not tell people that God loves them and yet they are hungry and you do not give them anything. Our ministry is the ministry of compassion and this is why we embarked on this mission to identify families that are in need of our help.”
Thabo Johannes Rampitsa, a ward officer in Ward 3 said, “We are very thankful to see church organisations committing themselves to uplift communities. Such initiatives will help to reduce the effects of poverty and the overwhelming unemployment rate in both the areas.”
