Community food kitchens in the southern suburbs were beneficiaries of a two-ton rice donation in Grassy Park on Wednesday 14 September.
The donations which comprised of 66 bags containing 30 kg rice, was sponsored by the Taipei Liason Office of the Taiwanese government in Cape Town.
Capricorn Primary School in Vrygrond was one of the rice recipients.
Tracy-Lee Barnard, acting deputy principal and teacher at Capricorn, said learners often received their only meal for the day at school.
“Many of our learners come to school without having eaten the previous evening, so receiving only one bag of rice makes a difference.”
The primary school is sponsored by Peninsula Feeding Scheme to fill hungry tummies for breakfast and lunch.
“We serve breakfast at school which consists of standard maize meal and we serve the majority of learners from Vrygrond in Capricorn from the age of seven to 14.”
A cooked meal for lunch can either consist of soya, fish, pilchards and vegetables.
“For example they will probably add butternut to a stew and soya mince.”
Barnard added that the community is rife with poverty, unemployment and crime.
“In this community you see poverty, crime, gangsterism and unemployment.
“Covid took its toll, there is unemployment and many of our kids would come to school without eating the previous evening.
“Sometimes we send food home so that it’s not only the child that gets a meal but the whole family, mother and child.”
Siddieka Hassen, principal at Capricorn Primary School, said they appreciated the donation.
“We are appreciative of this generous gift. Our Feeding kitchen will be cooking it to feed our 720 learners who rely on the meals prepared daily.
“The donation will definitely make a difference.
We currently host over 720 learners and the rice will make a big difference in feeding the children.”
Judy Hermans, member of parliament of the Grassy Park parliamentary constituency office, said many organisations would benefit from the donation.
“Benefitting from the donation will be NGO’s, ECD centres, schools and churches who cook and feed hot meals on a regular basis.
“This is but a small donation and covers a small gap in the huge contributions these community food kitchens make on a daily basis to feed the hungry in our communities.
“We hope it is of benefit to them especially in this time of exceedingly high food prices.
“The pressure felt by all of us to feed our families must also weigh heavily on the community food kitchens.”
