GFN presents proven solution to food insecurity

GFN, an international organisation working in 15 countries, works collaboratively to reduce world hunger by securing more food and enhancing the ability to efficiently distribute food through food banks and food bank networks around the globe.

“We are proud to be recognised for our work on behalf of hungry children in Argentina, Colombia, India, Jordan and South Africa. Working in partnership with the private sector, government, civil society and thousands of unsung heroes on the frontlines feeding hungry people every day, we will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of students in these five countries,” said Bob Forney, GFN President & CEO (www.foodbanking.org).

GFN is seeking funding support for the following projects:

• In South Africa, GFN's commitment targets the expansion of the proven “Bread Buddies” program currently operated by the organisation's partner in SA, Feedback Food Redistribution. In its most basic form, Bread Buddies is a school feeding effort in which a “wealthy” school makes sandwiches to feed everyone in a township school. Each recipient school is assigned to five donor schools so that sandwiches are provided each day of the week. The aim is to establish the Bread Buddies program in a new food bank in one region of South Africa. It would serve three needs: supplement the National School Nutrition Programme in primary schools (through age 11), add high schools (starting at age 12) in particularly poor communities where orphaned students have become heads of households due to their parents' death from AIDS; and provide sandwiches on weekends and holidays (when school is not in session) in food insecure communities.

• In Argentina, the focus will fall on the poorer communities of Buenos Aires. Rationing is already taking place in schools as it pertains to school feeding. GFN's commitment will use excess kitchen capacity within the schools to prepare and serve school meals. Through food banking, donated products will be secured and provided to agencies in school districts, which will then send teams and product into the schools for meal preparation.

• In Colombia, the organisation's commitment targets Bogota and the 250,000 students who are completely left out of the government assisted school meal program. Within this group, priority has been placed on the severely underserved and malnourished children occupying the “rim” which is comprised of families displaced as a result of Colombia militias. Two methods will be used to provide services into the rim communities: 1) food banks will provide food to agencies who then prepare meals and deliver to schools; and 2) food banks will provide food directly to some schools for meal preparation.

• In India, the expansion of the government's Mid-Day Meal program (MDM) will be the focus for aid. Specifically food banks will be established and serve as suppliers to MDM providers. Food banks will obtain product such as cooking oil, produce, spices, etc., and distribute the product to MDM providers at little or no cost. With the food bank as a supplier, MDM providers (most of whom are NGOs having to raise the majority of their funds) can experience significant budget relief allowing for expansion of services to new schools.

• In Jordan, the government school feeding program exists but is limited to breakfast, and this program only reaches 75% of the school-aged population. There is interest in adding a lunch component to school feeding. The focus for the commitment is to expand school breakfast to reach into the final 25% currently not served by the program. In addition, specific attention will be paid to supplying milk to the breakfast program, utilising food banking to leverage industry for donated supply.