Food supplies depleted
Bitou’s centralised food relief initiative, Plett Volunteers, has enough funds left for only the next three weeks to continue their Covid-19 efforts, which includes providing up to 70 000 meals a week.
The initiative started four months ago to combat hunger as a result of the economic impact on the area following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The shutdown of numerous businesses in our area and the termination of employment and job opportunities due to social-distancing measures has had a drastic consequence – incomes have fallen away and families and individuals run the risk of going hungry. This is over and above an already dire situation in our country,” the team said this week.
Run by local residents, the initiative essentially serves as a central distribution point for the area’s more than 60 soup kitchens and rely solely on donations. Up until now, they have managed to provide up to 10 000 meals every day.
The volunteers’ main focus is on collecting, packaging and distributing food donations, and supplying local soup kitchens with groceries.
Some local restaurants have also come on board and cook food for soup kitchens that can otherwise not meet the demand.
Plett Volunteers receiving tons of maize meal for distribution among residents who are suffering financially as a result of Covid-19.
While the Plett Volunteers initially formed part of the Bitou Covid-19 response team, they are now standing on their own after the response team recently announced they had reached their goals and no are longer accepting donations.
“The crisis is far from over. People are still suffering to put food on the table,” said distribution manager Nadja Fredricks, who noted that thanks to previous donations they have enough funds to provide food for three weeks.
“The need will still be there three weeks from now, so we are desperate for donations to keep our efforts going,” Fredricks said, adding that it costs about R47 000 a week to provide meals.
Plett Volunteers putting food parcels together at the Plettenberg Bay Methodist Church for those suffering as a result of Covid-19.
The volunteers support seven communities, and for each area, there is a team member who coordinates the transport of food from the distribution centre at the Plettenberg Bay Methodist Church to the community.
Every meal or food parcel distributed is accounted for and captured on the Plett Volunteers database. “We want to be as transparent as possible and account for everything that we do.”
Fredricks said although the statistics provide an indication of the need in the community, it does not reflect the gravity of the situation fully. “We estimate that about 30 000 people need food every day in our area,” she said.
To support the initiative, donors can visit their website for all the information required.
Young Qolweni residents lining up for food as part of Plettenberg Bay food relief efforts.
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News