The task team established by the civil rights organisation AfriForum and the family farming network Saai, in collaboration with Solidarity Helping Hand’s Joseph Silos project, today delivered the first consignment of food at more than 20 old-age homes in communities in the Pretoria area. More than 5 tonnes of fresh produce was delivered.
This initiative entails that food and essential items will be distributed to needy individuals, families and institutions such as, among others, children’s homes, old-age homes and clinics in communities across the country, especially considering the current difficult circumstances in which various communities find themselves.
AfriForum will be responsible for managing distribution at grass-roots level from the Joseph’s Silos and the outlets of other organisations in cooperation with Saai to ensure that the items being packed and prepared by, for example Helping Hand, reach those in need as soon as possible. Family farmers can deliver food and other donations at their nearest Helping Hand Silo or other outlets and AfriForum will be responsible for the distribution of the food and other items to the needy.
“Today’s donations were distributed to the elderly in our communities to help them get through these tough times. This project creates hope and AfriForum would like to develop it to enable us to do more. We can especially help with the distribution of products in support of organisations such as Helping Hand that have already established an excellent foundation in the country. We cannot expect that only the government will provide aid in this time,” says Ian Cameron, AfriForum’s Head of Community Safety.
“This initiative strengthens a network of role-players from cities and the countryside to help the neediest people in this time of distress. We especially want to thank the selfless farmer from Limpopo who made today’s donation and want to encourage other farmers who currently have a surplus of food that is just going to be wasted, to donate it to this initiative or distribute it via local structures,” says Francois Rossouw, CEO of Saai.
“Helping Hand’s structures are already established and the fact that we are taking hands with AfriForum and Saai ensures that these institutions will create hope together. We have already established more than 70 Joseph Silos across the country as lifebuoys for needy people in this time. Almost R2 million has already been donated to this project and Helping Hand has been able to provide more than 1 500 families with food, as well as 170 institutions such as old-age homes and children’s homes during this pandemic. When we stand together during and after this crisis, we will be able to go forward with heart,” says René Roux, Deputy CEO of Communication at Solidarity Helping Hand.
The organisations are making an appeal to people to, if they are to purchase goods during the lockdown, buy something extra and drop it off at the Joseph’s Silo in their area. When the lockdown is lifted, the amenities will still continue with their operations for quite some time until the crisis time is over. All precautionary measures will be instituted to ensure the safety of the public.
People can also make donations to the Solidarity Movement’s emergency fund to support this project.
Account holder: Solidarity Helping Hand
Bank: FNB
Account number: 62 331 445 503
Branch: Centurion (branch code: 250 655)
Reference: Korona
Swift code: FIRN ZA JJ
Visit www.helpendehand.co.za and click on the link for social aid to apply for assistance.
