Ballito Rotary appeal for Beira flood funding
A 20-tonne container - loaded with 40 000 500-gram maize/pap rolls - is ready to be dispatched to Beira.
With the city of Beira in ruins in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, the world has rallied in aid of the people of Mozambique.
Ballito’s Rotary Club are among those who have not hesitated to pledge a hand of assistance.
“We first heard of the disaster in Mozambique the Monday after the cyclone happened, and after an emergency meeting we felt that we had to do something,” said club president Richard Brooks.
“We realised that one of the greatest needs of the people trapped in these conditions was food”.
The club jumped into action and sourced a maize food product from Port Elizabeth, originally manufactured in Cape Town. The maize/pap belongs to the A-maize-zing Foods brand.
“The beauty of this product is that it requires no cooking, no fire, has a 12-month shelf life and is made in South Africa,” said Brooks.
Two weeks ago the Ballito club reached out to 90 Rotary clubs in the district, appealing for donations and encouraging people to get involved.
According to Brooks, a 20-tonne container – loaded with 40 000 500-gram maize/pap rolls – is ready to be dispatched to Beira.
The goal now is to collect the R396 000 it would cost to send one fully-loaded container across the sea to Mozambique.
WATCH: Ballito rescue mission in Mozambique cyclone crisis
If road closures were lifted and a straight road trip was permitted, the cost might even be less than that initial projection.
“So far we’ve raised just over R82 500,” said club member Trevor Broadbent.
They are appealing for donations from other rotary clubs, individuals and companies. Brooks says that “all monies collected will be strictly accounted for and will be spent on purchasing and distributing this much needed food product”.
With the right amount of funding, the club hopes to get as much of this product as possible to those needing it desperately in Beira.
Donations can be made by using the following banking details:
- The Rotary club of Ballito
- Standard Bank
- Branch code: 040027
- Account number: 052761053
- Reference: Cyclone IDAI food relief.
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