THE non-profit organisation, Humansdorp Community Feeding Action Group, has brought together residents and shop-owners in Maak ‘n Las and Jeugkamp to provide meals for those in need.
Jaques Alexander, co-founder and director of the NPO, regales how the group was found in Maak ’n Las, Humansdorp, in March, this year and registered last month.
Level 5 of the nationwide lockdown left many people without work, income and food. The closure of schools aggravated the situation as learners depended on meals they received at school.
“This was a very tough time as some households had nothing. The prices of essentials were elevated – even at local spaza shops,” says Alexander.
In a bid to help those in need, co-founder Andries Felix hosted a meeting with friends, community members and shop owners in Maak ’n Las. Felix has since relocated.
Later, in a separate meeting with shop owners, they agreed to aid the community by providing supplies for food parcels.
The distribution thereof was the initial plan of the NPO; however, lacking funds and supplies, the ten members started a soup kitchen to provide meals for more residents.
Since then, with the help of anonymous donors, Spar Humansdorp, Kouga Municipality and the Victory4All project, the organisation has managed to establish soup kitchens in five different streets, to provide food for at least 180 people in each street three days a week.
Occasionally, the organisation joined hands with an existing soup kitchen, managed by local residents Morica Groeners and Juanita Munnick.
The NPO expanded its services in July, and started a soup kitchen in Jeugkamp. With help of shop owners, they have been able to feed some 142 people once a week.
“We specialise in providing fresh meals, prepared every day. We adhere to the strict Government regulations, social distancing, sanitising and wearing masks. We also manage to spread the message about the coronavirus, and educate people about the importance of hygiene at all times,” says Alexander.
A hiccup occurred when the lockdown was downgraded to Level 3. Shop owners in Maak ’n Las were unable to assist the NPO anymore, which meant a decrease in the quantity of food supplied to residents.
“The need for food in the community continues to grow. People from as far away as Se-wende Laan and Vaaldam travel to Maak ’n Las to visit our soup kitchen to get something to eat.”
“We depend on support and contributions from businesses and the community.”
Alexander says, “Though we started in Maak ’n Las, the goal was to roll out the project throughout Humansdorp and to source supplies and funding to sustain the project. He is also keen on finding a suitable building to run the soup kitchen from.”
- For more information, contact Alexander at 062 286 2604 or Elizabeth Kettledas at 071 065 0801. Alternatively, send an email to humansdorpfeedinggroup@gmail.com.
