WITH food insecurity in Amaoti reaching alarming levels, a local NPO is calling on the community to help ensure no child goes hungry this Mandela Day.

Lungisani Indlela, a north Durban-based NPO that works closely with vulnerable families in Amaoti, has launched a food drive for Mandela Month, aiming to collect non-perishable food items to distribute to struggling households.

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“Food security has always been a problem in Amaoti, but in the last few months the situation has worsened,” said Faye Curtis of Lungisani Indlela.

“We’ve heard heartbreaking cases of children putting themselves in danger just to find something to eat. Recently, a young girl fell out of a tree and broke her arm while searching for berries. That’s the level of desperation we are seeing.”

The organisation is appealing to the public to donate essential food items such as tinned food, mielie meal, rice, and long-life milk, which have a longer shelf life and do not require refrigeration.

Donations can be dropped off at the Lungisani Indlela office in Phoenix, Harvest Church in Somerset Park, or Claire’s Thrifting in Durban North.

“People can also sponsor a child in our Learner Support Programme for just R200 per month, volunteer at our weekly literacy programme on Wednesday afternoons, or help prepare sandwiches for our daily aftercare,” she said.

“You can even support us by making Lungisani Indlela a beneficiary on your MySchool or Woolworths card.”

Curtis said Mandela Day is an important reminder to act in service of those who are suffering year-round.
“As Mandela said, ‘Freedom is meaningless if people cannot put food in their stomachs.’ This month is an opportunity for us all to make a tangible difference in our communities.”

For more information or to get involved, contact Lungisani Indlela at 031 505 8811 or email info@lungisani-indlela.org.za.

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