We’re so proud to live and work in Cape Town. I believe that we’re blessed to live in a community full of truly good neighbours, who constantly show interest in the wellbeing of the people in our community. Food for Life (FFL) Cape Town is the local branch of a national (and global) vegetarian food relief organisation. FFL, established in 1974, is the world’s largest vegetarian non-profit food relief organization, with projects in over 60 countries. Food for Life South Africa (25 branches nationwide), a non-sectarian and non-discriminating Non-Profit Organization, holds a section 18a status with SARS allowing a tax rebate on donations.
Since joining FFL SA in July 2013, FFL Cape Town got the impetus to increase our reach: we were distributing approximately 120 plates every fortnight in one area. Since Feb 2016 we have increased to 1,800 freshly cooked meals per week, distributing in 8 different areas, partnering with multiple, like-minded individuals and organisations. It is our belief that our efforts should encompass and include our communities, being collaborative, and as such we have developed a network of community liaisons, who we collaborate with in each of the areas we visit for logistics and co-ordination, as well as for providing a certain level of security for our volunteers.
FFL Cape Town currently has a weekly programme with regular food distribution in Nyanga, Phillipi, Overcome Heights, Stellenbosch, Grabouw, Mitchell’s Plain, Hanover Park, Kensington and other poverty-stricken areas in and around Cape Town. In addition to distributing nutritious food, we are also committed to empowerment, and are about to pilot a literacy initiative with some of our partners. We are also aiming at creating sustainable FFL supply projects that empower the poverty stricken and disadvantaged people of Cape Town to earn a livelihood.
The meals we cook are served personally by our organisation members and participating volunteers. We would like to increase to 5,000 meals per week in the near future; there are many challenges we face in reaching our medium-term objective however, including lack of sufficient resources, both monetary and human. In an effort to address our requirements for growth and sustainability, we are planning an event which will live out the legacy and principles left behind by two iconic leaders: Nelson Mandela (former president of SA) and Srila Prabhupada (founder of FFL).
Nelson Mandela once said: There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.
In a speech given at a Food for Life event in Durban, Madiba said: Another important building block for new democracy is the love and goodwill we show to each other. That is the spirit of Masakhane, of building one another together; it is also the spirit of today`s festival organised by Food for Life.
Both Mandela and Prabhupada propagated a spirit of selflessness and loving service to others, and more importantly, they embodied this spirit in all their endeavours. We are grateful for their wonderful example, and at FFL, we believe in expressing that gratitude through our on-going efforts to follow in their footsteps and continue the legacy they left for us.
Food for Life’s event, Living the Legends, will take place mid July 2016(date and venue to be confirmed). We intend cooking 50 pots of vegetable biryani, each pot containing 200 plates (total 10,000 meals). We invite and humbly request your participation and support, by sponsoring a pot, and / or cooking with a group of friends / family / colleagues, or getting involved in any one of a number of ways. We are also inviting corporates to participate as part of a CSI / team-building initiative, encouraging staff to spend a few hours cooking a wholesome meal for those in need. The cost of each pot is approximately R1,400 (which can even be shared amongst groups of people); all ingredients, pots and spices will be provided, as well as a step-by-step, simple guide detailing how to cook the food. Participants are welcome to take the cooked food and distribute in an area of their choosing.
Communities that actively participate in creating solutions to the problems that affect them become strong communities. Strong communities benefit everyone. We’re a non-profit group committed to working with the community to reduce poverty, reducing chronic hunger, and to developing hope in the hearts of people in our midst. We are doing what we can to help. Can we count on your help? You can find pictorials and more information about us on our Facebook page (Food for Life Cape Town) as well as our website http://www.fflsa.org/branches/cape-town/
Please contact us if you’ll be able to help us. Any support you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Naynesh 079 487 7169
Nilesh 082 688 0056
Devaki 082 560 2926 I’ve also attached some testimonials from some of our partners, attesting to the positive impact Food for Life has made, and is continuing to make in our communities.
For your (visual) benefit, I’ve included some photos from some of our recent food distribution outings to give you an idea of the joy our visits bring to our neighbours.
