A Lotus River resident is looking for donations to help make polony parcels to feed 200 families in areas such as Lavender Hill and Phumlani.
Rayleigh van der Merwe, founder of Love Hope Faith Restoring Humanity, has been feeding the community since last April and is now looking for a way to ensure children are fed during the upcoming festive season.
“There are many feeding schemes out there but a lot of them do not feed during the December holidays, so I want to make up a selection of cold deli meats that can feed a family of five for at least a week or so during that time,” she says.
“A child should never go to bed hungry, so by giving them this parcel, they can at least sustain themselves.”
The 39-year-old said her organisation feeds about 2000 people from Thursday till Sunday.
“Feeding the community is a real passion of mine and it is something I do part-time, so we mostly make use of our own funds or donations.
“I have estimated that we need about R20 000 for the polony parcels, while I am also looking into making up bags of toiletry items like soap, toothpaste and shampoo to give to the kids instead of just giving them a party packet with sweets that they will eat in a day or so.”
Rayleigh adds: “I cook twice a week while I have helpers like Jerome Willoughby who cooks on the days that I am at work and he is also always available to deliver the food to wherever it is needed.
“We may have started with areas between Lavender Hill and Phumlani, but if people ask us to come to them, then we go there as well.”
To assist Rayleigh, contact her at [email protected].