Community project feeds thousands in the Moot

"They were extremely grateful for the contributions of food and blankets."

June 23, 2020

Kayla van Petegem 2 minutes read

Friends of the needy fund embarked on a winter drive on Saturday, whereby the Pretoria Tamil Community provided 5000 cooked meals to be distributed in and around Eersterust. Photo: Supplied

Thousands of needy people in the Moot and east of Pretoria were spoiled to a plate of warm food at the weekend. Friends of the Needy fund embarked on a winter drive on Saturday, whereby the Pretoria Tamil community provided 5 000 cooked meals to be distributed in and around Eersterust. Monique Hammond of Friends of the Needy said they distributed 500 cooked meals to five areas, including East Lynne, Moot, Nellmapius, Plastic View and Cemetery View.

Eersterust was treated to 3 500 cooked meals, Hammond said.

“Coupled with this, we also donated 100 dry food hampers to families and homes in need thereof,” she said.

“We also received 10 blankets that were distributed to Plastic and Cemetery View informal settlements.”

“They were extremely grateful for the contributions of food and blankets.”

She said Tamil Federation of Gauteng (TFG) and Friends of the Needy decided to commit by donating 200 blankets to the people of Plastic and Cemetery View informal settlements.

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“We also had the opportunity to have the crew from SAUMA HD Radio on the ground with us to see the logistics behind the initiative,” she said.

They were in Laudium at the temple of TFG to see the cooking process, chefs and the people behind the entire project.

“She said they also had the chance to show them the distribution process and they got to engage with the community and the sector leaders.”

Hammond said the project has gone from small to extensively big to what started as just assistance during the national lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This has now grown into a major feeding scheme project that will eventually become self-sustainable, which is now the prime focus to enable all communities to become self sustainable,” she said.

“Saturday was a beautiful and successful day, and we are hoping more donors come on board to assist with the transition of the initiative.”

Hammond said they started with the project about two weeks after the national lockdown started.

“The project was started after numerous issues across the area and the need became very big,” she said.

She said Eersterust Action Organisation (EAO) collaborated with them shortly after they started.

Hammond said Kit Kat and other organisations also assisted with donations.

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“Food has thus far become the single most important thing to everyone who has been crippled by the lockdown and movement restrictions imposed due to the virus,” said Hammond.

“The government has been unable to provide as much assistance as they anticipated would have been required. The community of Eersterust have suffered as most of the residents rely on odd jobs to provide for their families.”