GEORGE NEWS - A meeting between founder of the Garden Route Food Pantry Carl van Blerk, and Premier of the Western Cape Alan Winde took place in Cape Town on Friday 23 July.
It was held at Leeuwenhof, the official residence of the Western Cape premier. Van Blerk on Monday confirmed that the meeting did take place, after the one originally scheduled for Mandela Day, 18 July, was postponed due to the unforeseen volatile situation in our country.
Van Blerk used the opportunity to give feedback on the progress of the Food Pantry and discuss upcoming projects that will improve the nutrition of children most vulnerable to malnutrition across the region.
Van Blerk said the Food Pantry relies on funding from the district municipality as well as the seven regional municipalities to maintain its running costs, so that staff can dedicate their time in sourcing and distributing food to the participating municipal regions.
"Over one million meals have already been sourced since the pantry opened in January 2021 - valued at nearly R3-million rand. Further micronutrient products called Nutrilite™ Little Bits™ have also been sourced at a value of R17-million rand to benefit 10 000 children under the age of five in ECD centres," he said.
"Premier Winde was very receptive to the work done by the Food Pantry and the dedication of its staff to a cause that is critical in our country's current environment."
READ HERE: Alan Winde in Garden Route on Sunday
According to Van Blerk, Winde provided him with some valuable insight into food security projects in and around the Cape. He also gave Van Blerk some numbers for contacts to extend the aid in the Garden Route. Van Blerk has already followed up on these and has received positive feedback.
"I was humbled by the receptive and encouraging words by the premier, and look forward to his visit to our facility when next he is in George," said Van Blerk.
The Garden Route Food Pantry is a non-political and privately run NGO, with the only vision to eradicate malnutrition in the Garden Route.
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