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TUESDAY 9 February 2021 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za
@ThePeoplesPost
People’s Post
Members of the newly established Serve the Needy NPC.
TAFELSIG
For the love of serving SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS SAMANTHA.LEE@PEOPLESPOST.CO.ZA
@SAMANTHA_LEE121
W
ith the growing need for nutrition and skills development becoming more evident during the initial stages of the nationwide lockdown, a local organisation is hoping to become a hub for transformation in Tafelsig. Recently registered as a non-profit company (NPC), Serve the Needy has been actively feeding and caring for seniors in Tafelsig since well before the lockdown. With the increased need, the organisation has decided to formalise their commitment to continue to serve the community, and they are hopeful for greater support. They have also recently received their tax
exemption certificate. Albert Solomons, organisation chair, says they started with the seniors of the New Apostolic Church in Tafelsig about three years ago. The organisation became registered in March last year and expanded its reach and feeding capacity. “When we started, we had some funds from the congregation, seniors and ministers, and started feeding (in this way) since lockdown began,” he says. “Seeing the need of the community and the congregants (were) the motivation behind this organisation. We are living in a disadvantaged community. There really is a great need.” The organisation is still run from the church’s basement and while some of the congregants are still beneficiaries, the organisation is a separate entity and not affiliated with
the church. “When lockdown started, we could not even feed 300 people, our pots were too small. We have since got some outside sponsors who have donated to our feeding scheme. In April, we could also give food parcels for the community. We have children and seniors.” The group feeds an average of 300 people per day, with feedings on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 13:30. The team consists of 10 members who do all the preparations, cooking and serving. Their days often start at 08:00 to ensure they are able to meet their feeding time. All Covid-19 protocols are observed during feedings. “We are really in need of funding, especially with gas. One can last less than a month,” says Solomons. Their other needs include dry and non-per-
ishable foods and a gas stove as they are currently using a borrowed burner. “We used to serve porridge in the morning, but due to the price of sugar, we could not keep up. Luckily, we have some other items that we can feed the community,” he says. “Most of the time we have to serve from our own pockets and, at times, our pockets also have holes in them. There have been many times when we have struggled to get a pot of food together, but we manage.” Solomons says they are hoping to further expand from feeding, to include seniors events, health and safety workshops, skills development as well as stationery drives for local children. The organisation has also registered on Quicket as part of their fundraising initiatives. V For donations or more information, contact Albert Solomons on 074 213 6880 or Jasmine on 082 647 2120.