FoodForward SA is sending out a call to farmers, manufacturers and retailers to donate their surplus foods for flood relief in KwaZulu-Natal. The non-profit organisation’s plea comes in the wake of torrential rains and flooding that have displaced more than 40 000 residents and done extensive damage to roads and other basic infrastructure in the province.
Of the 26 identified community halls where residents currently receive food, 11 get their two to three cooked meals per resident per day from FoodForward SA, as there are no other organisations providing food relief at these sites.
“Despite weather challenges and limited road access, our Durban food heroes have been working around the clock this past long weekend,” says Andy du Plessis, managing director of FoodForward SA in a statement. “We are reaching the communities of Ntuzuma, Pinetown, Umlazi, Inanda and Phoenix, ensuring they have access to daily meals and hygiene products.”
How to donate
Du Plessis emphasises that they cannot overcome this disaster alone. KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala confirmed that over 13 000 households have been affected, with 8 300 houses partially damaged and almost 4 000 homes completely destroyed. The provincial government is still tallying up some of the numbers and expects the death toll, already over 400, to rise.
“We are in short supply and need the support of the public so that we can continue food relief efforts in the coming weeks,” says Du Plessis.
“Please reach out to us via info@foodforwardsa.org or call 021 531 5670 if you can donate any non-perishable food items, hygiene supplies or support financially.”
FoodForward SA is a well-known and established organisation that sources, collects, and stores edible surplus food from the supply chain and redistributes the food to registered organisations across the country.
“We redistribute more than 12 000 tonnes of food every year, but still, food insecurity affects more than one-sixth of our population,” adds Du Plessis. “There is a massive social imbalance, where surplus exists right alongside massive scarcity. It’s up to us to fix this.”
ALSO READ: FoodForward SA is connecting a world of surplus to a world of need
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