By Nomfundo Mbatha
The COVID-19 pandemic sharply exposed and increased longstanding food insecurity in Makhanda, creating an urgent need for coordinated food relief efforts. As many households lost income and access to food became more insecure, community kitchens emerged as critical lifelines, providing cooked meals to thousands of vulnerable residents across the city.
Although COVID-19 has ended, the demand for community kitchens has not diminished. Ongoing economic hardship, high food prices, and job losses have continued and even deepened the need for these basic food support systems in the post-pandemic period.
Food4Futures
Mary Birt, known as Mama Mary, founded Food4Futures at 33 New Street. Birt distributes sandwiches to the community on Tuesday mornings. Because a sandwich once a week is not enough to sustain anyone, she then introduced Parking4Parcel, a project that allows members of the public to purchase vouchers which can be given to car guards instead of cash. The vouchers can be used to buy items like coffee, food and toiletries from Food4Futures.
Birt also distributes grocery parcels to those in need in our community who cannot support themselves adequately. She started helping people in March 2018 and then began a non-profit organisation in November 2019, which fed 55 families. When Covid-19 hit, this went from 55 families to 500 – but demand was even greater. “We then created a list of families so we could know who most needed food. Every day, we’d see more and more people walking through our doors,” Birt said.
Soup kitchens that have long been a lifeline for many are now struggling to stay afloat. Despite their crucial role in providing food to the most vulnerable members of society, these kitchens are facing a severe food shortage due to a decline in donations and the provision of gas cylinders in some soup kitchens.
Sheila Botha runs her soup kitchen from her shack in Sun City. She faces a donation drought and does not receive enough food to sustain the kitchen each month. On top of this, the municipality has failed to provide her with water.
“This is very challenging for me. I run this kitchen alone, and if I run out of food, I must take money from my pension. I also plant vegetables in my garden, but since I do not have water, I am struggling to maintain and keep them alive,” she said.
The soup kitchens have long been a beacon of hope for those struggling to make ends meet. They provide more than just a meal; they offer a sense of community and dignity to those who often feel forgotten. However, without a steady stream of donations, their ability to continue this vital work is seriously threatened.
Masincendane soup kitchen
Masincedane is a community soup kitchen that prioritises children in the Xolani location, which was run by Cynthia Belwana and is now run by her daughter, Thabisa Belwana (36).
In 2005, Belwana began running the soup kitchen from her home every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, feeding up to 100 people daily. Cynthia’s open-door policy and nurturing nature ensured that community members always felt welcomed and cared for, and people, young and old, would come from as far as Joza and Hlalani to get meals.
Due to the lack of donations and a gas cylinder for cooking, she decided to close the soup kitchen. “It’s very sad that I am closing the kitchen because I have children coming and asking for food, but I have to turn them down.” Children from less fortunate homes depended on her cooking and keeping Masincedane operating, Thabisa said.
The kitchen helped to keep children in school and cared for the elderly and the most vulnerable in Xolani. She is currently hunting for a job.
Masibambane soup kitchen
Lulama Maseti, 34, from Extension 8, runs her Masibambisane Soup Kitchen from home. She is unemployed and lives with her two kids and mom. She depends on her mother’s pension and child support grants to buy food. But a slice of that money goes to groceries for the soup kitchen.
The community kitchen has experienced a marked dip in food and gas donations. Maseti is now finding it hard to help the community. “I was getting donations from individuals willing to help me with food and gas. They have stopped because they no longer have money; it is hard,” Maseti said.
You can contact Food4Future at: 083 6510067
