Community projects help keep the less-fortunate during lockdown
“Folks have been really struggling throughout lockdown especially because of the lack of opportunities to generate income.”
The Community Action Network (CAN) recently undertook a drive to help feed the needy around the Tshwane metro.
The network is part of the St Francis of Assisi, Waterkloof CAN and the Sunnyside Upliftment Project. Members offered services in the north, east, west and the central precinct of Sunnyside and Arcadia.
The members also collected warm blankets to give away to the less-privileged in Pretoria.
Sunnyside upliftment project spokesperson Shaun Wilkinson said: “We have been feeding the homeless, the orphans, the elderly and vulnerable homes right through the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Folks have been really struggling throughout lockdown, especially because of the lack of opportunities to generate income.”
He said the upliftment project was aimed at continuously supporting the Sunnyside community and others.
READ MORE: Local north residents continue feeding families
“We have attempted to help all vulnerable groups, irrespective of your status, if you are hungry and we have to give, we will share the abundance and the love,” Wilkinson said.
He also noticed many members of various communities were facing a challenge of uncertainty due to the Covid-19 circumstances at play for many individuals and households.
Wilkinson said the less fortunate were served with mixed parcels, vegetables, fruits, groceries, clothes, blankets, hygiene packs and toiletries.
“Many people were assisted, but not enough.”
Wilkinson said as part of assisting the less fortunate during the lockdown, they had a team of sandwich warriors that made sandwiches every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and at times, every Saturday, to help feed the less fortunate at the stew kitchen at the Sunnyside Methodist Church.
He said they were able to offer different meals, including paella and potjiekos every week, to the homeless in Groenkloof and many community individuals had contributed to these feeding and self-care schemes.
READ MORE: Foundation to continue feeding Olievenhoutbosch residents
Tebogo Mpufane said he felt pleased about the destitute being assisted by communities through such difficult times.
Mpufane services the homeless community in Centurion and the Pretoria CBD and was once homeless himself, in the streets of Pretoria.
“Thanks to Covid-19 that the invisible members of the community finally have a spotlight shine on them.”
Mpufane said just the past week, the Sunnyside project was able to offer a man who could not walk a wheelchair to attend his wife’s funeral.
“These projects are assisting a lot,” he said.
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