GEORGE NEWS - Arriving at a church in Thembalethu to see the work that a branch of Meals on Wheels is doing to help their community, one expects to see only the infirm and young with plates in hand. What greets you is many young and middle-aged people who rely on the food provided by this branch to feed themselves and their families.

This Meals on Wheels branch is called Lukhanyiso, which means ‘love in action,’ and seeing to the basic need of hunger is what they aim to accomplish.

However, Lukhanyiso manager Tembisa Pietersen says they have also been affected by the economic climate. Since last month Meals on Wheels in Thembalethu have had to decrease their service provision to the more than 120 people who need their daily bread. "We used to operate five days a week, but social services can only sponsor meals for three days a week."

Although Lukhanyiso currently feeds 20 people who are sick and infirm by taking food to their houses, they have seen an increasing need amongst especially the men on the side of the road. According to Pietersen, the number of these men knocking on their doors increases daily.

Reuben Maputi (55) relished his lunch on Monday before heading out to look for work again. He told the George Herald that this meal means that he has the strength to go and look for work and also do the work itself.

For many, especially women, collecting food is not just for them. The bowls of nourishing pap, sous and chicken will be taken home and used to feed themselves and others. Mama Eunice Peki Duka says she has fetched food for herself and six children. She says, when asked what this food scheme means to her: "Jy voel oraait... ek voel gelukkig".

Pietersen and her group of volunteers from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Thembalethu keep a strict register of who gets food and also if there are family members for whom extra food is to be allocated.

For Pietersen, who has been involved for three years, it is a passion. "I inherited this [love of helping others] from my father, Pastor Maxengana, who for almost 40 years has been helping people in the Eastern Cape. It’s a family thing," she adds.
Lokhanyiso urgently needs any blankets and toys for community members and encourages the public to sponsor a hungry person via SMS. Simply SMS the word "MEAL’ to 39055 (your SMS is billed at R15).

For further information, visit www.mowglobal.co.za or contact Tembisa at 072 991 6503.


Meals on Wheels’ Tembisa Pietersen checks her list to ensure that all the registered persons in Thembalethu requiring food receive their meal for the day. Due to economic constraints this organisation had to cut their food provision from five to three days a week.
ARTICLE AND PHOTO: LEEANNE PRATT, GEORGE HERALD REPORTER