Sad news from the Garden Route Food Pantry

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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Due to insufficient funding, the Garden Route Food Pantry is forced to make some unfortunate changes.

Sadly, the reality of running a full-time operation does not come without operational costs.

We are fortunate to have had a large warehouse facility to cope with our growth in both the food logistics as well as food manufacturing, in our on-site kitchen, but this comes at a cost.

Although we do make use of volunteers, it is necessary to have full-time staff who are trained in food production on an industrial scale as well as to manage and coordinate all relief efforts – these amazing people also need to feed their own families and deserve a salary.

Add to this, the transportation costs, electricity costs and general food expenses, and the reality of funding is clear.

We have repeatedly put out pleas for people to join our network of “friends” and for businesses to donate regularly in exchange for Section 18A certificates, but sadly, we have had little to no responses.

We absolutely acknowledge that everyone is battling, but the reality is simply that not everyone is battling to the extent that nobody is able to help – we don’t ask those who are already giving to church, animal welfare, or another charity of their choice, nor are we asking from those who simply cannot afford to help – we value and respect your contribution and difficulties that you may be experiencing.

The Food Pantry is not closing but will need to downscale to a level that 1 person will be able to manage all activities.

This does also sadly mean the kitchen which has been producing highly fortified biscuits and pasta, will be closed for now.

We have notified all staff that no salaries can be paid in November, so no staff will be expected to come to work as from tomorrow, 1 November 2022.

In my personal capacity, as the founder of the NGO, I will continue to volunteer daily and will continue to strive to find a way to keep the doors open. The difficulties experienced in trying to gain funding, when we are not based in a major metropole such as Cape Town, has been unforgiving.

It is why we constantly encourage local big business to support local – as it is the only place we will find help to continue feeding the poor.

Thank you to those who do support.

Openbare kennisgewing

Weens onvoldoende befondsing word die Garden Route Food Pantry gedwing om 'n paar ongelukkige veranderinge aan te bring. Ongelukkig kom die realiteit om 'n voltydse operasie te bedryf nie sonder bedryfskoste nie.

Ons is gelukkig om 'n groot pakhuisfasiliteit te hê om ons groei in beide die voedsellogistiek sowel as voedselvervaardiging in ons kombuis op die perseel te hanteer, maar dit kom teen 'n prys.

Alhoewel ons wel van vrywilligers gebruik maak, is dit nodig om voltydse personeel te hê wat opgelei is in voedselproduksie op industriële skaal asook om alle noodlenigingspogings te bestuur en te koördineer – hierdie wonderlike mense moet ook hul eie gesinne voed en verdien 'n salaris.

Voeg hierby die vervoerkoste, elektrisiteitskoste en algemene voedseluitgawes, en die realiteit van befondsing is duidelik.

Ons het herhaaldelik pleidooie gerig vir mense om by ons netwerk van "vriende" aan te sluit en vir besighede om gereeld te skenk in ruil vir Artikel 18A-sertifikate, maar ongelukkig het ons min tot geen antwoorde gehad nie.

Ons erken absoluut dat almal sukkel, maar die realiteit is eenvoudig dat nie almal sukkel in die mate dat niemand kan help nie – ons vra nie diegene wat reeds aan die kerk, dierewelsyn of 'n ander liefdadigheidsorganisasie van hul keuse gee nie, en ons vra ook nie van diegene wat eenvoudig nie kan bekostig om te help nie – ons waardeer en respekteer jou bydrae en probleme wat jy dalk ervaar.

Die Food Pantry maak nie toe nie, maar sal moet afskaal tot 'n vlak dat 1 persoon alle aktiwiteite sal kan bestuur. Dit beteken ongelukkig ook dat die kombuis wat hoogs versterkte koekies en pasta vervaardig het, vir eers gesluit sal wees.

Ons het alle personeel in kennis gestel dat geen salarisse in November betaal kan word nie, dus sal daar van môre, 1 November 2022 nie van personeel verwag word om te kom werk nie.

In my persoonlike hoedanigheid, as die stigter van die NRO, sal ek voortgaan om daagliks vrywilig intekom en sal aanhou streef om 'n manier te vind om die deure oop te hou.

Die probleme wat ondervind word om befondsing te probeer kry, wanneer ons nie in 'n groot metropool soos Kaapstad gesetel is nie, was onvergewensgesind. Dit is hoekom ons plaaslike groot sakeondernemings voortdurend aanmoedig om plaaslik te ondersteun – aangesien dit die enigste plek is waar ons hulp sal kry om aan te hou om die armes te voed.