There is still a message of hope after the recent closure of the Rotary Club of Pietersburg 100’s outreach project which provided food to destitute households during the nationwide lockdown.
According to the President of the Club, Naas Vorster, the Rotarians are in the process of planning for the project to be reformed in January next year.
“It is, however, clear that the structure and scope of the new project will have to be very different for that of the 2020 project,” Vorster explained and added that a last round of food parcels may be delivered before the festive days if enough donations are received. In the interim, donations received by the Rotarians are dispatched to old age homes and the existing help groups.
Vorster says the closure of the project was a result of logistic and financial constraints. “The project started as an emergency response to the vast number of people who were suddenly without an income and food due to the lockdown in March. As the lockdown proceeded, retrenchments and business closures escalated, and the project developed into a major undertaking, far beyond the initial short-term concept.
The supply of food purchased by the Rotarians and the donations from the local farming community were greatly assisted by contributions from businesses. For the just over eight months a dedicated core of Rotary Club of Pietersburg 100 members, assisted by members of the Rotary Club of Pietersburg as well as individuals and organisations such as the Scouts from the First Polokwane Scout Group portioned, packaged and distributed food parcels,” Vorster says.
Although it is difficult to put exact values on the materials handed out; it is clear that more than R400 000 of meat, over 400 tons of vegetables, plus dry goods were distributed. The combined value of donations and purchases was in excess of R4,25 million and this does not count costs incurred by those collecting the donations.
“We wish to thank all those who assisted with the project and Rotarians will continue to assist those in need with community based outreaches,” Vorster concluded.
Should you be able to assist in any way, contact Naas Vorster at 083 635 0588, Horst Meyer at 072 616 3339 or Richard Wilson at 083 283 1097.
Rotary outreach success
According to the President of the Club, Naas Vorster, the Rotarians are in the process of planning for the outreach project to be reformed in January next year.
