The initiative started about 13 years ago after trustee Marius Jacobs became aware some children were going to school without food. They subsequently began providing meals to learners and have continued doing so ever since, as they believe in ensuring that children receive food every day, says André de Jager, a representative of Food4kidz.

“A hungry child can’t learn. The schools identify children who do not have food at lunchtime and approach us for assistance. Once we receive approval from the parents, we provide the children with meals at school.”

De Jager said the initiative operates a kitchen at the showgrounds, where meals are prepared before being delivered to schools. The children usually gather in a circle at school to receive their food.

“For some of the children, this is the only food they get for the day. That is why it is so important for us to make sure they receive good-quality food. It is inspiring to see the children thriving and how they look forward to our arrival every day to receive their meals.

“Recently, we gave the children Christmas parcels, and they wrote us letters expressing their appreciation. We have put the letters up in our kitchen to remind us of how much the initiative means to them. We love the children.”

The initiative relies on private donations, monthly contributions, and support from local farmers to keep the feeding programme running. However, covering expenses such as fuel, vehicle insurance, gas, electricity, and payments for kitchen staff remains a challenge. 

Bloemfontein initiative provides meals to schoolchildren. Photo supplied

“We have a network of about 40 people who help us. Some farmers donate carrots, meat and other produce, while others contribute potatoes and other food items. We prepare and freeze much of the food to make it easier to provide meals every day.”

The initiative needs more people to get involved and contribute to ensure that it can continue providing meals to the children. De Jager encouraged members of the community to support Food4Kidz by donating food or money. 

“People can visit our Facebook page, Food4Kidz, to find out more about the initiative and how they can contribute. Anyone who wants to donate food can assist with items such as rice, maize meal and pasta, which we use every day, as well as meat and vegetables. People can also make monetary donations. 

“We make a difference to at least 1,300 children every week, and we need to keep that going. We hope to continue doing this for many more years.”

OFM News/Siyakholwa Mbatyazwa dg

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