Pinetown couple serves up goodness with hearty meals
The Pinetown couple, Raj and Indira Paul have always had a passion for assisting the underprivileged, and when the lockdown was implemented two years ago, they started an NPO, Food For Life, which now feeds 200 people every Saturday.
THE start of lockdown unlocked a start of an NPO which now feeds more than 2000 people in Pinetown and surrounding areas.
From making just one pot of breyani, Raj and Indira Paul now cook with six big pots every Saturday. With the help of one other cook, the Pinetown couple wakes up at 04:00 to prepare for the day.
“We start cooking at 06:00 and finish at 09:00,” said Raj.
The couple said when lockdown started, there were numerous queues in shops and there was a dire need for food. “We decided to do something about it as we have always had a passion for assisting the underprivileged, and that is when Food For Life was born,” they said.
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Although their aim was to assist the people around the Pinetown area, they now work with NGOs from the Queensburgh and Chatsworth areas.
Stephanie Amod from El Gibbor Kitchen, one of the NGOs that works with Food for Life said they feed about 300 people every Saturday with the food they receive.
“We were introduced to Raj in the beginning of the pandemic. Two buckets of food goes to the homeless in Pinetown, and the other two buckets are sent to children in Molweni, Inanda or to Motala Heights. It all depends where the need is for that specific week,” said Amod.
Food For Life work with various NGOs, churches and other individuals who share the same vision as them.
“The people come to our house every Saturday to get the food which they distribute to people in need in their areas.” said Indira.
She said in the beginning, they use to go out and distribute the food but as the need to make more food grew, the organisations and individuals now come to their house to pick up the food.
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“People and companies have been kind enough to help us with the grocery so it makes our job easier and enjoyable as we do not have to worry about what we are going to cook, we truly appreciate the support,” said Raj.
He added that they will continue assisting where they can as they have builds strong relationships with the people they work with.
“Our vision is to be able to cook even during the week and distribute to places such as clinics and hospitals where people queue the whole day with empty stomachs,” he said.
Stephanie Amod from El Gibbor Kitchen, one of the NGOs that works with Food for Life extended their sincere gratitude to Raj and Indira for their ongoing support and kindness in helping them make a difference to those in need.
Anyone who wishes to be part of Food For Life can contact Raj on 076 762 9070.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
