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TUESDAY 19 January 2021 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za
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People’s Post
The Woodstock, Saltriver Community Upliftment Project has provided over a million meals since March last year. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
FOOD SECURITY
‘Where is government?’ KAYLYNNE BANTOM KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@MEDIA24.COM
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ince the start of lockdown in March last year, the Woodstock Saltriver Community Upliftment project has provided more than 1 million meals to people across the Cape Flats. Now funds and sponsorship are running dry and the project coordinator, Eddie Thompson, is appealing for assistance. Thompson claims the saddest part is that since March, the project has received no funding from local or national government. He says it is time politicians stop taking all the credit and start acknowledging the work ordinary people on the ground are doing daily. “Us as the people on the ground have had to beg and plea. We do anything we can to
get donations from sponsors. The government sees and hears about the work people in communities are doing but they are not assisting us. They are not being supportive.” Thompson says it is the start of the new year and the need of vulnerable people is even greater now. “With uncertain food relief plans from local and national government for this new (adjusted) level three lockdown, we as citizens are somewhat on our own and need one another more than ever.” Thompson, who is a carpenter by trade, says he has turned his workshop, based in Stowe Street in Woodstock, into a kitchen to be of better service to those in need. “We have a stove, fridge, tables. Enough space to prepare and cook food, also a storeroom.” According to Thompson, the upliftment project, with the help of sponsors, supplies ingredients to more than 42 satellite kitch-
ens across Cape Town. All of whom will now feel the brunt if more sponsors do not step forward. “Since March, we had a local farmer that would supply us with more vegetables. All in all, he gave us more than 60 tons of vegetables which the project would then distribute to the different kitchens. A total of 40 tons of dry ingredients was also distributed.” He explains that to fill one 100 litre pot of food one needs three bags of potatoes, one bag of onions, 10kg to 15kg of meat or chicken and vegetables. He says this feeds between 300 to 600 people. Their target is to reach 700 to 1 000 people per day. A target, he says, they often cannot reach. Priscilla Manho runs the Viscount feeding scheme in Rocklands in Mitchell’s Plain. She says she would not have been able to feed the more than 300 adults and children daily if not for the upliftment project. “They supported me in a great way. I could
pick up the phone and say I need this or that and Eddie would get it for me if he could. It is quite sad that the donations are starting to run dry, but we understand. People are all struggling now.” Nadia Willoughby, a spokesperson for the Noah Old Age Homes in Woodstock, says the project was of great help to the elderly. “The upliftment project made sure our more than 60 residents have a meal every day of the lockdown. Our elderly really struggled because they could not be visited by their families, but Eddie and his team stepped up and we are grateful for them.” She encourages people who are able to donate to support the upliftment project. “So far, we have always had food, no matter the situation. Our stock may run dry but there will always be a meal,” says Thompson. V Anyone who wants to donate can call 074 728 2521 or email wscup20@gmail.com.