Church in desperate need of corporate sponsors as it hands out food parcels for the last time
The Advertiser previously reported that since the start of lockdown the church has reached out to more than 6 200 families as part of its effort to alleviate poverty in Boksburg
Hundrends of people who used to receive their daily meals from the Seventh-Day Adventist Afrikaans Church will soon face starvation due to the church’ss looming dry season. Based on the corner of Champion Street and Eighth Avenue, the church will have to halt its community services because they haven’t been receiving enough food to feed the hungry for the past few months.
The church has been reliant on donations from good Samaritans and the church’s funds, which have run dry.
A sombre mood prevailed on July 28 during the church’s last distribution day, where about 150 families from Blue Sky and as far as Angelo informal settlement received their food packs for the last time.
According to Graham Riley, of the church, if they don’t receive assistance from businesses overnight they will be forced to close their doors.
“The bread we gave out today was the last, so we are uncertain about the future of this project. We are appealing to local businesses to assist us with anything. If we can find 32 companies who can donate R1 000 every month it will meet our target of R32 000 that we use monthly to cater for the needy.
“We know companies are still battling and finding their feet due to the impact of lockdown, but their contributions will really make a difference in the lives of the hungry people who queue here every day expecting food,” Riley said.
He added they hand out meals to 150 people because they don’t want them to resort to crime just so they can get something to eat. The church’s marketing director, Martin van der Walt, said he is willing to go out and knock on various companies’ doors in Boksburg in search of funding.
Lili Grobler, one of the members of the church, who has also been financially assisting the project, said it will be sad if they have to turn people away because there is no food.
“So many parents have for the past few months depended on the food we give out to feed their families because they are unemployed,” Grobler said.
Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos, who was also called to assist in finding sponsors, said he had spoken to Riley who was visibly heartbroken about the possible closure of the project.
One of the beneficiaries of the food packs, Beauty Simelane, from Angelo informal settlement, said she learnt about the wonderful work the church does through Phillip Motaung this year while she was looking for employment in Boksburg North.
Anyone who is will to assist the church by donating food, clothes, blankets, toys or a bakkie with an installed refrigerator can contact Riley on 081 3686 036 or van der Walt on 068 0142 323.
Donations can also be made to the church’s Standard Bank account (account number: 025296337, account holder: Sewende Dag Adventiste Kerk).
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