Buhlebethu continues feeding the hungry
With the numbers increasing the supply is not enough and the need is becoming high.
KINROSS – Nestled in the location of Ext 25, Afghanistan, the Buhlebethu Foundation Centre “Our Beauty” is an afterschool care for children and orphans between the ages of three to 15 years.
It is also a very important food source for the children and for the elderly and the frail.
Consisting of 12 caregivers, the foundation would on average feed 63 elderly and 93 children daily, but these numbers have risen due to lockdown restrictions that have left many more families unemployed and vulnerable.
For all of them, these meals are the only meals they may have, bearing in mind that most that are able to get these meals, still have unemployed parents, siblings or grandchildren at home who also still need food.
The foundation would normally hand out 120 loaves of bread.
The loaves of bread are taken home by those who have to take care of families. But with the increase in numbers the supply is not enough and the need is becoming high.
“The people are now more, what we normally use in two days we now use in one,” said Mr Lucky Thusi, caregiver.
They are also unable to store the resources and supplies at the centre.
“We are faced with challenges of burglaries; we have had it before where all our stock was stolen, so we have to store it at another location.”
“We have also tried to grow vegetables but the vegetables get stolen at night,” said Mr Thusi pointing to the fence where the burglars came through.
But this however, will not stop the caregivers to attempt another vegetable garden that they will be prioritising when restrictions are lifted.
The foundation will however, be needing donations of seeds and seedlings and soil and compost.
The Buhlebethu Foundation has been running for 10 years and relies on every donation.
The caregivers face many challenges, one being the obvious electricity supply, but the other is that they need volunteering transport in order to collect food donations from their suppliers on a weekly basis.
If you want to assist with transport or make donations of food or money, phone Mr Thusi at 082 093 2200.
Mr Thusi thanked all his suppliers who have continuously supported the foundation throughout the years.
