DURBAN - A MIDRAND non-profit organisation, Food For Life (FFL), has donated food to more than 120 000 victims affected by the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal.
The organisation intervened in the province to provide much-needed food relief to those left destitute by the riots, looting and destruction of infrastructure.
Chairperson of the FFL, Vinesh Maharaj, said: “We launched our social media campaign to raise awareness for this project and were inundated with requests for food. These requests are still continuing for many reasons, including the unemployment that has resulted from the rioting.”
Due to supply chain disruptions in the KZN region, food had to be sourced in Gauteng and transported to KZN once the N3 freeway was reopened, he said.
“The food hampers were assembled by FFL volunteers in KZN. We partnered with local sustainable development company, LTM Energy, to raise much-needed funds to purchase the required food and toiletries.”
Maharaj said that to date, more than 36 tons of essential food items had been transported to KZN in two loads, with each parcel designed to last a family of four for one month.
More than 1 200 parcels have been distributed by the KZN branches of FFL South Africa, covering areas such as Chatsworth, Phoenix and Pietermaritzburg.
The food relief would not have been possible without corporate support, he said. “A huge thank you and appreciation to all of our generous donors, both business and individuals, who heeded our call for donations.”
In addition, Maharaj thanked Viveshen Naidoo and Chantel Smith from Petro Gulf for sponsoring the fuel required by transporter, Yashveer Haripersaad from Delta Consolidators, who also did not charge for the many loads required. “We hope to continue to support this endeavour and help make a difference to those in need.”
Daily News