Hunger relief – funding request for food distribution of secured UWSA food and hygiene packs.
With the expectation that South Africa is close to reaching “the peak” of the COVID pandemic, it is clear that many households are losing – and will lose – their sources of income as a result of the pandemic and its associated lockdown, and our country is at the cusp of a malnutrition crisis. Now with food prices up by 30% and the economy in a downward spin, it is more important than ever to think innovatively and to be efficient in our food relief responses. The distribution of food parcels in response to the above has also proven itself fraught with difficulty. It is expensive, logistically complicated and risky, both for COVID-19 transmission and corruption.
Over the past three months, we have overcome this by distributing over 12 000 food parcels to vulnerable people across 9 provinces, from local churches and community halls.
This month, Siyakholwa has partnered with United Way South Africa (UWSA) to distribute UWSA’s donation of just over 900 family packs of food, hygiene and PPE – that will support an average family of 10 for a month – in 4 provinces in August 2020. The monetary cost of UWSA donation is approximately R 500 000.
The families in need have been assessed and identified over the last few months, using Siyakholwa’s local community leaders working in the surrounding communities.
Over 5500 disadvantaged and starving people will be directly impacted by this intervention in South Africa’s most underserved communities.
As of the 28 July 2020, we are just under 3 weeks away from UWSA’s delivery date of food and hygiene packs, that we urgently need to distribute to families in need.
In order to meet the distribution dates, we request funding (in-kind or monetary donations) to be secured by 7 August 2020.