District’s lifeline to combat famine

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - If all goes according to plan, the Garden Route Food Pantry (GRFP) will become an official depot for the national food bank, FoodForward SA. This means that the Garden Route will be guaranteed one truck of food (10 to 15 ton) per month from Cape Town.

"We will be able to help so many more people," said managing director Carl van Blerk. "We are busy with our application and everything looks positive."

Van Blerk recently gave a quarterly overview of the GRFP's operations to Council, stating that, since middle December, the pantry has sourced more than R2-million worth of food products. This includes fortified protein biscuits, fresh products and products with a longer shelf life.

Van Blerk said products are distributed soon after receipt. For efficient distribution across the district, the establishment of satellite food pantries is something that might be attainable by the end of this year, said Van Blerk.

"Hessequa Municipality already stated that they are interested in a food pantry for their municipal area."

Funds

With funding of roughly R30 000 per month from the district municipality to cover their running costs (rent of the premises, electricity) personnel at the GRFP are currently working for the love of charity work.

"All the B-municipalities indicated that they too will contribute to the pantry, but there is still a lot of red tape - administrative processes - that need to be followed, so in the meanwhile we do rely a lot on donations from businesses and private individuals," said Van Blerk.

"Funds are needed to pay for certain products, which, although very cheap, still cost money. We also need funds for fuel to transport truck loads of food. Recently we had a situation were we obtained two truck loads of fortified peanut bars, but missed out on a third truck since we couldn't pitch the rest of the money."

Garden Route Food Pantry MD Carl van Blerk Photo: Eugene Gunning

Own wheels

Van Blerk said their biggest current need is their own vehicle for the GRFP. "It would be amazing to have a bakkie or van with a canopy to transport food to and from the pantry. Currently we are using our personal vehicles, but you can only load so much in a sedan car," he said.

"More and more farmers and shops want to donate food, which needs to be picked up. Having a vehicle would also ease the delivery of food to feeding centres."

How to apply

The food pantry provides food on a weekly basis to about 75 distribution agents (feeding centres) such as churches, meals-on-wheels charities, faith-based networks and service organisations. Individuals can visit the GRFP website and click on a link titled 'I NEED HELP'.

Applicants need to complete the online application form, which will direct them to an organisation where they will get food. If a person runs a feeding centre in the Garden Route district and wishes to register with the GRFP for possible support, the link on the website needs to be followed to complete the application form.

The public can help with a monthly contribution of R100 as a "Friend of the Food Pantry". To pledge a monthly donation and have your name or business name printed on a brick behind the reception desk in the pantry, follow the link: http://echo.org.za/donors/.

All fresh products are quickly distributed to feeding centres.