Families in need assisted through Polokwane ‘yellow ribbon’ initiative

POLOKWANE – With the national lockdown, many businesses have adopted the no work, no pay policy.
This has left many families in the city without an income and therefore, literally no food on the table. Luckily, we live in a city where many people reach out to those in need.
Mariza Pelser from Heart-Drive/Heart-Cycle, Petro du Preez from PBGHELPGROEP NPC and Lindie Meyer at Leading Miracle Foundation, along with a group of volunteers decided to create a way of assisting.
The initiative is based on the Yellow for Food Movement by Annari Du Plessis from Gauteng, in which people who are in a dire need of food tie a yellow ribbon or cloth on their gate, to attract the attention of those who can assist with food.
The team in Polokwane decided to use technology.
“Since people are not allowed to leave their homes, we have encouraged the community to make use of WhatsApp to communicate their needs. They can change their profile picture to the yellow colour, then someone who sees this can reply with a message asking if everything is OK, do they need food and so on and refer them to us,” explains Mariza.
There is very strict control over who receives what.
Those who have been identified need will be sent a general questionnaire to answer with questions on their particulars and other socio-economic information.
Mariza adds that the majority of the needy families in the community have been made known to them through churches.
“Even people who have an expensive vehicle, find themselves in a no-work, no-pay situation, or they might have their own business that currently does not generate an income.”
The extension of the lockdown has exacerbated the crisis, Mariza said.
“Ordinary middle-class families are now suddenly on the breadline in a matter of a week. There is no income and most of the distressed families now only have one adult that may be paid a full salary or none at all.
“Elderly residents and families with children are given preference. We help where we can… families can only receive one food parcel once a week. We work only from donations from the community and therefore the items in the food parcels differ from day to day.
She encourages readers to contact them if they see yellow ribbons on gates to make them aware of the family’s situation.
“Unfortunately, charity organisations do not have permits to drive around and be on the lookout for ribbons. That is why we make use of a social network. We also encourage people to communicate with their neighbours and query whether they are in good health and whether they have food – even yelling over the fence will work.
“We know and acknowledge that a person who is proud and has never had to depend on others for food, is going to have a hard time hanging a ribbon on their gate.”
She adds that the project needs people in the community to assist them in helping everyone.
“If you see a house with a yellow ribbon or a yellow profile picture, you are more than welcome to help the family themselves. From farmers who can donate, to a family who prepared too much food and has leftovers, can feed someone else.”
To become part of this project, contact Mariza at 071 679 2126, Lindie at 061 348 3601 or Petro at 078 453 1433.
Alternatively they can also contact Wilhelmina Kkoutas at 060 609 3380 or Carien at 083 768 5942.
Banking details for financial assistance:
Polokwane Nood Capitec Bank
Account number: 1392085509
Branch code: 470010
As part of the project they also have the four-colour initiative:
• White: Everything is good.
• Yellow: Struggle with food.
• Green: I am sick or might have Covid-19.
• Red: I have the virus.

maretha@nmgroup.co.za