The station has committed to providing non-perishable goods, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables over a three-month period to the feeding scheme. The scores of children that benefit from the scheme met the food donation with jubilant song and dance.
Cowen personally assisted in feeding around 50 toddlers during the activation. The day was marked by celebration and the community converged on the centre to meet Cowen and the station's Ground Patrol team.
"I think it is the most humbling experience in the world to be able to drop off what looks like a small amount of food and be told that the rice alone will last until October. When we all sit down to our dinners consisting of nourishing meats and vegetables, I hope this day reminds us that so many children out there don't know the benefits or pleasures of a 'full' meal," says Cowen.
Widely known as 'A Malnutrition Rehab Centre', the African Children's Feeding Scheme has been successfully running since 1945. Founded by Bishop Trevor Huddleston, its vision has always been to address disease, poverty and hunger within disadvantaged communities. With 13 feeding centres around the country, 31 000 children are fed each day with three nutritious meals. The branch at Alexandra alone feed 1 500 children daily, while providing food parcels to their families on a monthly basis.
In addition, Phindile Hlalele, the director of the scheme in Alexandra, facilitates skills development training and provides health education workshops to the community. "On behalf of the ACFS, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the station for the gifts provided, but more importantly for putting a smile on the faces of these children. Any contribution made toward the feeding scheme is a step to saving the lives of these little ones."
Lead SA activist, Terry Volkwyn has urged South Africans to stand up and make a difference in communities hard-hit by poverty and hunger. "Lead SA will continue to support these organisations that make a difference on a grassroots level; in fact, we revere and applaud them for the difference they make. We urge them to continue the great work that they do," she added.
For more, go to www.acfs.org.za.
