Hamper gives much needed relief to family
A PHOENIX father wept because he did not know how he was going to provide for his family during the lockdown.
The 29-year-old, who did not want to be named, earned about R70 a day by doing odd jobs in the community.
But with the lockdown, this was no longer possible.
With no money to buy food, he was afraid his wife, 30, and children aged 10, 7 and 3-months-old, would starve.
However, a food hamper was given to him to assist them during the lockdown courtesy of the Phoenix Child Welfare and the Phoenix Civic Associations.
The family fell on hard times five years ago, when he was retrenched from his job as a salesperson at a retail store in uMhlanga.
The family now shares a one-bedroom outbuilding with his wife’s parents in Stonebridge.
The rental for the home is R2 500 a month. Their water and electricity cost is just over R500.
“Ever since my retrenchment, I have struggled to find a permanent job. I started doing painting, handy work, cleaning pools, and with my father-inlaw, we started cutting grass to make enough to buy food.”
A week before the lockdown, he made R240 cleaning pools.
“All we had in our kitchen was a few slices of bread, some rice and margarine. My wife used this to feed our children, and I bought a tin of formula for our baby. In the days before the lockdown, I tried desperately to find work, but there was nothing. Now, I cannot do anything.”
His wife said her husband and her did not eat for an entire week.
“I kept on thinking that this virus (Covid-19) is not going to kill us, starvation will. My children were crying for something to eat. I had to ration them so they would have something for the coming days.”
She said they were feeling hopeless and scared. Their plight was reported to the organisations by a friend.
Last Thursday, Dr Muni Koblall from the welfare, delivered groceries to them.
“I just cried. I could not believe what was happening. I felt this huge pressure lift from my shoulders. I did not want my family to starve. I am so thankful for the generosity, especially during this period,” he said.
Dr Koblall said they started the Phoenix Emergency Food Relief Programme after receiving numerous calls for assistance during the lockdown.
“Thousands of people in working-class areas are hard hit with little or no money to buy basic food and baby products. These desperate residents have limited food and require assistance.”
He said, so far, they had donated more than 100 hampers.
If you would like to assist, call Kooblall at 082 786 64 30 or Sham Maharaj at 071 885 9971.