GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The great work that the Garden Route Food Pantry is doing - and especially its newly developed "food sock" product - will soon be known to the whole of South Africa.
The KykNET programme Kwêla is expected to air an insert on the Food Pantry some time in April.
On Thursday 30 March, George residents may have seen the Kwêla van on the streets of George.
Presenter Pieter Koen and the film crew spent the day with Carl van Blerk, founder of the Garden Route Food Pantry, as they covered the story of the newly developed food sock product, aimed at addressing the growing need for affordable meals.
The shoot started at the François Ferreira Academy, as founder chef François told of his support and the contributions made towards the new product.
Samples of food socks being prepared by three lecturer chefs left a wonderful aroma permeating the air and culminated in a taste test by Pieter and the film crew. The dishes served on this occasion were chicken breyani, chicken pasta and a fabulous mutton stew - just three of the eight dishes already available from the Garden Route Food Pantry that can be obtained at only R5 per meal for a children's size portion or R10 for an adult portion. Other meals include tamatiebredie, chicken and veg soup, pasta bolognese, mac and cheese and even a traditional macaroni melkkos. A chakalaka samp and beans will soon be added to the menu as well.
The Kwêla film crew also made their way to the Garden Route Food Pantry facility to watch and film the process of the food socks being created.
"Receiving the call from Kwêla to cover the story of our food socks has been overwhelming to say the least," Van Blerk told George Herald. "Watching the show materialise and hearing the positive feedback to the recipes we created has me believing that we can not only make a significant impact to those in need here in the Garden Route, but also countrywide."
Van Blerk said the food socks are not only beneficial to the vast number of people affected by the economic decline who seek an affordable and easy-to-prepare meal that is nourishing and fulfilling, but are also ideal for campers, the elderly, students and many other sectors of our society.
Those who wish to try out a food sock, or to purchase some for someone they wish to bless with a meal, can do so directly from a food sock reseller - a list is available on the website at www.echo.org.za.
More information can be obtained at info@echo.org.za.
Corporate donations to provide for the most vulnerable in our society are welcome. A Section 18A certificate can be issued for tax relief.
Van Blerk said hopefully the TV coverage will make more people aware of the challenges the Food Pantry is facing.
Pieter Koen and chef François Ferreira.
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