Patty Ogle, the founder of the Ogle Foundation, an organisation dedicated to providing food to the homeless and distributing sanitary products, says food insecurity remains a major concern.

Ogle has been running her organisation since 2016 and says almost every day she cooks nutritious food and feeds about 280 community members.

“I used to do the feeding once or twice a month, but seeing the need and knowing that people go hungry every day, I realised I had to do something. That is why I started cooking every day.”

On September 16, Ogle hosted one of her daily feeding initiatives, serving meals to community members in need. She served options of pap or rice with cabbage stew, beans and juice.

The foundation also distributes sanitary products to young schoolgirls, an initiative she says is essential to keep girls in school. She also ensures a feeding initiative is run specifically for school learners during school holidays.

“I receive calls from as far as KZN, with schools asking if I can deliver sanitary products for them,” she says.

“The need is big, but I’m motivated because I do it for the love of the community.”

Ogle also recycles bottle caps for wheelchairs, which she donates to community members in need.

Annual Christmas Party

She is appealing to the public to donate towards her ninth annual Christmas party, which aims to bring joy to underprivileged community members who may otherwise go without during the festive season. Donations of any kind are welcome to help make Christmas a little brighter for those in need, including fruit, vegetables, toys, pre-loved clothes and sweets. Donations can be dropped off at 20 Raath Street near Roodepoort Police Station, or you can contact her on 076 313 2247.