Noah’s first food parcel drop was well-received by those in need
NORWOOD – Residents also braved the cold on 26 May, by dropping off donations at Paterson Park.
The first community food drop by Noah Can was a success. Noah Can – which stands for Norwood Orange Grove and Houghton Community Action Network, is an initiative of the Lower Houghton Ratepayers’ Association.
Volunteer at Noah Can, Greg Bortz said, together with about 20 volunteers, the group managed to put together over 200 parcels. “We only decided to do this community drop on 22 May. We’re getting incredible support from Pick n Pay Norwood and SPAR Norwood,” Bortz said.
Residents also braved the cold on 26 May, by dropping off donations at Paterson Park. How it works, Bortz explained, is that people in need to provide their details through various sources, such as the ward councillor, who then informs the group.
Bortz said the parcel consists of milk, maize, ePap (cereal), soap, a few cans of food, and whatever else people can give. Administrator at Noah Can, Janice Scheckter, said they obtained most of the donations by managing trolley collections at the SPAR in Norwood. A list of the essential items needed was attached to the shopper’s trolleys.
One of the challenges, she said, is that in Orange Grove alone, there are over a thousand families in need. This equates to over three thousand people who Noah aims to feed and the need keeps growing. The other challenge is that volunteers often need to deliver the parcels directly to families, who, in many cases, live in areas of immense need. This can create uncomfortable and heartbreaking situations as families, who may not be on the receiving end, have to watch as others are helped.
“We are, however, managing amidst the challenges. It takes a community to do this. People have enormous gratitude for what we’re doing. The pressure is on us to find funding and food. We ask the community to keep thinking of us,” said Scheckter.
Bortz said they aim to do another donation drop in two weeks’ time. Volunteers were all masked and gloved, they followed strict social-distancing protocols; recipients were also sanitised before and after receiving the donations.
Details: Noah Can on Facebook NOAH CAN Janice Scheckter janice@indigo.africa
