Join Noah Can in the fight against hunger
NORWOOD – The Can has grown into an important community body.
There has not been a lot to smile about this year with the devastating lockdown leaving no one untouched.
It was, however, a catalyst for change and galvanised much-untapped goodwill within the community served by the Norwood Orange Grove and Houghton Community Action Network (Noah Can).
A group of community members in these areas formed Noah Can in April to help their neighbours who they knew would be impacted by the overnight loss of earnings and closure of the economy.
Noah Can coordinator Emily Wellman said, “We had no idea how far-reaching the hunger would be. So much of the poverty here is hidden behind suburban house walls, it is not exposed like it is in places like Alex. Had the Noah Can not been formed, there may have been civil unrest with provincial government’s emergency food support being paltry, although our ward councillor tried her best.”
She added that what began as a small intervention, had blossomed into an imaginative and important body for the area. “We want to harness this positive energy and build on the true spirit of Ubuntu that has enabled us to be the success we are.
“Our volunteers have worked tirelessly, fundraising, packing parcels, distributing them in a fair and equitable way to the thousands of residents that are facing a hunger crisis and possible resultant early onset of malnutrition if no urgent intervention is found for them.”
Wellman said it had been difficult at times to keep motivation high, to develop a network that functioned well and to find a team that was dedicated and in it for the long haul. But they have that now, and look forward to growing, developing, and continuing their work in 2021. She acknowledged that collective action and cooperation under the Noah Can banner between Norwood Community Police Forum, residents’ associations, local businesses and individuals in a time of crisis were unprecedented in their corner of Johannesburg.
“It took a pandemic for us to find a common thread to grab onto across racial, political, religious, and economic lines, and it has been inspiring to witness. Despite surpassing our expected outputs, it has been impossible to meet the needs of all. Now more than ever before we need donations – donor fatigue is real, but without support, our critical interventions will cease.”
She asked people to kindly donate non-perishable food items or funds to get a festive end-of-year injection for their dwindling resources. Food donations may include maize meal, packets of soup, gravy, tinned vegetables, tinned meat, tinned fish or pasta.
Details: Financial donations can be made here.
For other payment options and drop-off points contact ward73noah@gmail.com; 072 236 2712
