GEORGE NEWS - The George branch of Meals on Wheals Community Services South Africa humanitarian organisations, has been tasked with feeding the homeless during this time of lockdown. For the last three weeks, they have been providing cooked meals to the homeless in all the temporary shelters.
Marie Potgieter, the coordinator here in George, says they are honoured that they were chosen for this task. She thanks everyone who had provided meals for the homeless before Meals on Wheels was asked to take over.
They are now providing three cooked meals a day here in George and she says they want to continue with this project once lockdown is over.
The food is prepared in George and taken to the shelters.
Simbarashe Madzana, financial director of Meals on Wheels Western Cape, confirmed that they have received permission to travel for this purpose from the Chief Directorate: Community and Partnership Development.
The Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated the Department of Social Development to intervene as people were removed from the streets to temporary shelters. "It is against this background that permission is granted to Meals on Wheels Community Services to purchase bulk groceries and deliver essential goods as they will be serving food to temporary homeless shelters," says Potgieter.
They were granted permission to travel to the Garden Route, Overberg and West Coast district municipalities where their branches were activated.
Potgieter says they already provide food for the temporary shelters here in George at the Rosemoor stadium, Mossel Bay, Knysna and now also in Pletterberg Bay. She says they are also assisted with cooked meals by Lukhanyiso Love In Action, the Meals On Wheels from Thembalethu.
In Plettenberg Bay they are assisted by Native Roots and Mossel Bay has its own branch that is in the process of being registered. "They are cooking in Extension 13 under our wing," says Potgieter.
Marie Potgieter of Meals of Wheels George with her team.
At the Knysna Vineyard Church and Methodist Church, they are assisted by volunteers in prepping meals.
Esther Lewis, the head of communication for the Department of Social Development, said Kirinox was appointed by the national department to assist with the roll-out of disaster response efforts in the form of humanitarian assistance. Lewis says the relief efforts provided by Government are supplementary to all efforts provided by other players.
"Government relief efforts do not seek to replace community feeding initiatives, but rather to work alongside communities to ensure that those at risk, particularly the homeless, receive the relief efforts in the form of hot meals and other relief goods."
She says the Western Cape has several temporary homeless shelters established by local municipalities in George, Knysna and Mossel Bay to safeguard the homeless during the nationwide lockdown period.
"Beneficiaries at homeless shelters are provided with meals as part of Government's response to mitigate risks as a result of the devastating effects on the homeless caused by the Covid-19 pandemic."
Should anyone want make a contribution or would like more information, contact them on mowgeorge@gmail.com or 076 979 0577.
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