Hunger: A Greater Challenge than Covid-19

The desperation, the deep sobbing cry, the insurmountable grief, is heart rending

The calls on both the Gift of the Givers emergency and counselling toll-free lines are flooded with virtually one request, “where can we get food, we are starving, we are hungry”.

Callers are from every corner of the country. The pleading is incessant, they have to feed a hungry child, a baby or someone ill. They don’t have income, won’t be getting paid, are not collecting UIF, and probably don’t have a job to go back to.

This is a time to give till it “hurts” for a fellow compatriot caught up in the harsh reality of Covid-19

The desperation, the deep sobbing cry, the insurmountable grief, is heart rending, and so is the dignified silent acceptance that everyone cannot be assisted, “thank you, we understand”. Reality stares you in the eye, “you can’t assist everyone”, just as in any major disaster. But each person richly endowed or even with moderate means can do something. This is a time to give till it “hurts” for a fellow compatriot caught up in the harsh reality of Covid-19.

Each person richly endowed or even with moderate means can do something

Gift of the Givers ongoing food rollout through feeding centres and food delivery accelerated on Friday, 17 April as they commenced preparations for the distribution of 100k food parcels nationwide. This was made possible through the generous contributions of selected corporates and the public. Packing commenced outside Gift of the Givers offices at 4 Aarbeidsweg, Penlyn Estate, Cape Town. Similar processes will commence in Johannesburg and Durban.

Gift of the Givers is actively delivering protective wear to 100 hospitals and clinics nationwide. They have set up eight Covid-19 testing sites, provided tents for triage at various hospitals, and are awaiting delivery of ten video laryngoscopes. Ventilators are on order, they have drilled 400 fully functional boreholes in the last 18 months providing water for drinking and hygiene. Water is being delivered water seven days a week with three water tankers in selected. Multiple groups of people are sewing material face masks that will be sent with contact tracing personnel to high risk areas for free distribution.

Food parcels cost R350 each. Contributions welcome into:

Gift of the Givers, Standard Bank, Pietermaritzburg

Account number 052137228, Branch Code 057525, ref Corona.

For section 18A tax deductible certificates send email to donations@giftofthegivers.org.