FoodForward SA makes R50m appeal to help up-scale its reach during Covid-19 lockdown
FoodForward SA has launched a R50m appeal to extend its outreach footprint and get food to a wider network in order to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on vulnerable groups' nutrition. "We're counting on the generosity of our corporate partners and the public to help us make this a reality," says FoodForward SA MD Andy Du Plessis.
FoodForward SA ambassador Bryan Habana
The organisation sources, collects, and stores edible surplus food from the supply chain and redistributes this food via 670 NPO’s and charities across the country, to over 250,000 people per day, including vulnerable rural communities.
“We’ve prepared a detailed needs list with associated costs, and are appealing to all sectors of our society and consulting with government, retailers, manufacturers and farmers to answer this very real need at a time when the most vulnerable in our country are at risk. While South Africa prepares for a 21-day lockdown, we are scaling up our operations in rural communities to secure food provisions for the next six months for our most at-risk groups, including the aged, orphans and vulnerable children, people living with HIV/AIDs, and TB patients,” says Du Plessis.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the provision of sufficient, diverse and nutritious food is key in strengthening people’s immune system and increasing their capacity to cope with diseases.
Part of FoodForward SA's scaling up entails reaching provinces the charity is not currently reaching.
Fast-tracking new beneficiary applications
“Working closely with our retail, manufacturing and agricultural partners we hope to increase our food provisions nationally, and to fast-track new beneficiary applications that focus on vulnerable groups including pre-school and school-aged children where they can access a meal,” says Du Plessis.
FoodForward SA’s Covid-19 appeal will enable it to invest in infrastructure and essential resources to establish more capacity to collect, store and deliver surplus and donated non-perishable food products to existing and new beneficiaries in provinces where the organisation’s network doesn’t currently operate, and where the need is greatest. Part of it's scaling up entails reaching provinces the charity is not currently reaching, including Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape province.
Donations to FoodForward SA are tax deductible. To make a donation or for more information, click here.
