Companies team up to donate to food bank
The mayor conceded that everyone had become vulnerable as those who are employed have found their salaries slashed, hence why they are considering applications for food parcels from those who are employed.
AECI and Triple Eight teamed up and donated food and other resources valued at R1.2-million to the Ekurhuleni Food Bank on Friday morning.
Included in the donation were five uniquely designed hand-washing stations to be placed at clinics.
These hand-washing stations have been designed with the Covid-19 pandemic in mind and include a foot pump to open the tap to minimise the use of hands.
The company has already helped improve the circumstances of over five million South Africans by:
• Targeting child-headed households and orphanages and donating water resources, bars of soap, sanitisers and masks for household use.
• Sponsoring a mass behaviour change and educational hand-washing programme to the value of R1.73-m.
• Supporting government clinics and hospitals with their locally manufactured hand-washing stations.
Also read: Foodbank officially launched in Springs
“The initial investments were focused on prevention, and while this work must continue, the next phase is focused on food security relief programmes due to the impact of the lockdown and job losses, sanitiser distribution to help protect people when moving around post-lockdown and donating rapid testing kits to help expand the net of testing,” says Mark Dytor, AECI’s chief executive.
Accepting the donation was Ekurhuleni mayor Mzandile Masina, city manager Imogen Mashazi and MMC for Health and Social Development Nomadlozi Nkosi, who says the donation is greatly appreciated and will help the metro in their efforts during the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Since the launch of the food bank on April 14, the metro has distributed 12 000 food parcels, handing out approximately 1 000 parcels a day.
“We have targeted the vulnerable, and have partnered with churches, NGOs, ward committees and sporting organisations,” says Masina.
The mayor conceded that everyone had become vulnerable as those who are employed have found their salaries slashed, they are therefore considering applications for food parcels from those who are employed.
“Our social workers will assess the situation before delivery of the food parcel.
“The current turnaround time from when the application is made to delivery is two days.
“The food parcel contains enough food for the month and we’re aiming to distribute to 50 000 households,” says Masina.
He added the metro would like to keep the food bank going until June, but it is really dependent on the donations they get.
To apply for a food parcel, contact the food bank on 011 999 5102 or at Coe.foodbank@ekurhuleni.gov.za
Also read: Covid-19: Premier checks in on food banks as province gets ready to provide food relief
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