Communities in the Cape Winelands were recipients of over 3 million meals during the lockdown thanks to the collaboration of several organisations.
Cape Winelands, South Africa (27 October 2020) – Valcare is celebrating the distribution of 3 million meals since the start of lockdown. The meals were distributed to 43,000 people within the Cape Winelands. When we reported in July this year, they had just hit 2 million meals.
At the beginning of lockdown, Valcare, who specialises in managing social investments, made the decision to temporarily focus their attention on providing food support to beneficiaries of their nonprofit member organisations most affected.
A COVID-19 fund was set up with the objective to relieve hunger in communities by distributing food support through monthly household food parcels, SMS food vouchers and supply of food to soup kitchens.
With the help of 180 funders, the organisation was able to raise R4.3 million. Their 3.1 million meals were broken down into 4745 monthly food parcels and 7495 household food vouchers.
The food support was distributed through Valcare’s network of nonprofit member organisations, and Inceba Trust’s Early Childhood Development centres. Designated champion organisations coordinated the distribution process on a weekly basis in communities from Mbekweni, New Rest, Wellington, Lantana, Chicago, Klapmuts, Simondium, Kylemore and Gouda.
Valcare also worked with Drakenstein Municipality in a separate initiative where 33 ward councillors identified needs in each of their wards. Valcare assisted in the distribution of government-sponsored vouchers to those identified in need.
“Although nutritional support is not part of Valcare’s core focus, we felt that we couldn’t turn a blind eye and continue with ‘business as usual’ whilst the desperation of our neighbours were so evident. We had to stand in the gap to help fulfil people’s basic needs,” says Ivan Swartz, CEO of Valcare.
Valcare made sure that thousands of people had some form of food security during the hard lockdown. As they close this chapter of their support for the Cape Winelands communities, they thank all who were involved in making such a big difference during a very scary time in global history.
You can find out more about Valcare and the work they do to support Cape Winelands communities here.
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