FOR the past four decades, the North Durban Lions Club has packed food hampers for communities, including the elderly, who only receive the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) grants.

The club has two collection points at both the Kensington SPAR and uMhlanga SPAR, which are manned on a bi-weekly basis, and has now set up a new collection point outside Eastmans SPAR in Glenashley on a monthly basis.

Grant Hobbs of the North Durban Lions explained that any food collected is distributed to residents of The Association for the Aged (TAFTA) Langeler Towers in Durban.

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“One of our club members, Phil Mayer, helps us with collecting anything donated at Kensington and uMhlanga. To ensure we collect sufficient food for those in need, the club approached Eastmans SPAR who have come on board with the Lions who have a food collection there on the last Saturday of every month. Their shoppers have been amazingly generous, enabling us to continue this project into the future.

“Without these food collection points, the project would eventually die. The food we collect is a variety of non-perishables, like tinned beans, fish, vegetables, tea, sugar, packet soups and pasta, and when we can, we add soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes. The foodstuff collected is repacked in A4 paper boxes at our Lions clubhouse every month before being taken to TAFTA. Empty boxes are also donated by several attorneys in the area,” he said.

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