Update Video

GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - Unless the Garden Route Food Pantry gets support in the next two months it might have to close permanently. This was confirmed by Carl van Blerk, managing director of the company, on Monday. 

The company is currently temporarily closed.

Van Blerk, who established the Garden Route Food Pantry in January 2021 to help supply in the food needs in the region, said it would be a tragedy if they have to close. There is more than enough money in the Garden Route. 

There are also Section 18A tax benefits for people and companies that wish to make donations.

There are different ways of helping and contributing, not only through food donations. A person/company can make a donation every month of only R100 to the Friends of the Food Pantry. If 500 people support the initiative, it would make R50 000 available.

He pointed out that the Garden Route region has suffered natural disasters and severe food shortages the last few years.

"The food pantry has been instrumental in providing food relief to those affected. The facility currently supports over 200 soup kitchens and feeding centres across the entire district. More than 52 000 families in this area live below the breadline, many with no income at all, and they rely on community feeding systems. 

"More than 27% of children under five are officially classified as malnourished. In this context, the closure of the Food Pantry will be yet another disaster in this region."

VIDEO: Garden Route Food Pantry needs help

Fight hunger together

He said hunger and malnutrition cannot be solved by one person - it takes a community who works together to achieve a common goal. 

"The food pantry has battled over the past 18 months to generate enough funds to cover the minimal operational costs, in order to cover warehouse facilities, transport of food and staffing. The recent loss of a major financial supporter has now put the NGO at risk of imminent closure."

Despite the challenges of consistent funding, the food pantry has been able to provide nearly two million meals valued at over R5-million over this short time. This included a successful application to the National Lottery Commission that provided R1-million worth of food parcels to people in need over December 2021 and January 2022.

New funding option needed

Over 10 000 children in early childhood development centres have benefitted from fortified products such as the super cookie, Eezeepaste Nut, baby formula and micronutrient supplements to boost their bodies to fight malnutrition.

Unless a new funding option is quickly found to keep the doors open, this all comes to an end.

"This devastating consequence will affect everyone, not just the poor. Poverty determines the health of a city; and our cities are not well," he said. "In an effort to keep the kitchens open and the food moving, the communities of all seven municipalities are urged to become a Friend of the Food Pantry - at only R100 a month, you can save a life.

"Please join by following the link to 'Friends of the Food Pantry' on our webpage. In order to save the food pantry, a minimum of 500 new "friends" are required, from across the Garden Route and Klein Karoo. Even if you cannot afford R100 a month any donations, however small, will help," Van Blerk said.

Businesses or individuals who wish to receive a Section 18A Tax certificate for their donations can contact Van Blerk on 082 826 0731 or carl@echo.org.za for more information.

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