Ensuring the community doesn’t suffer from hunger

A NEW foundation in the Helderberg region of Stellenbosch will ensure that hundreds of community members are fed through a network of soup kitchens.

Journey’s End Vineyards recently launched The Journey’s End Foundation, with the aim of tackling hunger and extreme poverty in the area largely as a result of Covid-19, committing to provide 8 000 meals per week for 52 weeks.

Journey’s End Foundation managing director Rollo Gabb said the economy continued to be badly affected by the pandemic, with the province hit by zero tourism and close to zero hospitality.

“This, coupled with a recent ban on domestic wine sales, has severely impacted the wine industry, and a 10pm curfew is killing the restaurant sector, leading to a significant increase in unemployment. With very little government support, many families are now unable to bring any food to the table. It has been reported that some 20 000 people in Stellenbosch are at risk of hunger. We completed the set-up of the Journey’s End Foundation earlier this month, realising we needed to move fast,” said Gabb.

“Journey’s End has committed funds to provide food for more than 400 000 meals, through a network of nine soup kitchens, over the coming 12 months. The team is working to develop this network to facilitate 10 000 meals per week by the end next month,” he added.

Gabb said for years they have placed a focus on supporting the winery’s local community, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, while providing employment at the winery and working closely with community heads to channel resources into a number of development programmes.

Joyce Flaunder, who has been operating her soup kitchen for the past 27 years out of her pocket, said she had been struggling securing food donations.

“This commitment made by the foundation will guarantee at least a meal per day for the starving community members. Most people have been frustrated about where they were going to get their next meal, especially worried about the kids and those who are taking chronic illness medication, and from today, food will be the last thing we will worry about,” she said.

A NETWORK of soup kitchens ensures people are fed during the Covid-19 pandemic, when some people have lost their jobs and means to provide meals for their families.