Feeding scheme springs into action
AFTER President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the Covid-19 outbreak a national disaster and said that schools would be closing almost a week early, the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) sprung into action.
The organisation raised more than R400 000 in less than four hours last Thursday when they appealed for help to ensure meals continued to be prepared for pupils in impoverished areas during the pandemic.
PSFA fundraising manager Charles Grey thanked the numerous individuals, foundations, businesses, churches and mosques that contributed.
“In response to the president of South Africa’s special address, PSFA is pleased to inform you that we will be providing ingredients for daily meals to be prepared and served to pupils affected by poverty at various community kitchens in the greater Cape Town area.”
Grey said the funds would ensure that a daily nutritious cooked lunch would be prepared and served to the children for a period of 16 days during the extended school holidays.
The feeding programme began today and will run until April 9, and will feed a total of 4 200 children.
“The cooks at each kitchen will prepare and serve the meals to each child in a container.
“Each child that receives a meal will then be asked to take their food home.
“This will assist with avoiding any form of gathering at each kitchen. The community kitchens will be spreading the word to the children in their respective communities about the free meals. They will be asked to bring their own containers.”
The lunches will be served at the following community kitchens: Jabulani Community Centre in Parkwood,
Priceless Honour Community Project in Blue Downs, Guardians of the National Trust in collaboration with Cafda in Philippi, Youth Outreach Centre in Cloetesville, Stellenbosch, Siphekela Isizwe Community Feeding Project in Gugulethu, Siphekela Isizwe Community Feeding Project in Joe Slovo Park, Milnerton, and the Smart Kingdom Kids in Retreat.
Camps Bay High School also did their bit and made grocery packs for needy pupils.
Principal David de Korte said: “Families surviving on small incomes are living paycheck to paycheck, and they have no reserves or fall-back positions, no savings to use in a crisis. We have a school feeding scheme that we know some children rely on in terms of a daily meal.”
De Korte said 28 pupils had been identified as needing assistance, and that they would be sent food parcels over the next two weeks.
Donations to the PSFA can be made online at www.psfa.org.za