First Food Bank in Africa

For the last couple of years, The Global FoodBanking Network has been working in South Africa to help them establish a food banking network for the country. On April 6, they celebrated in Cape Town the opening of the first community food bank in Africa – FoodBank Cape Town.

Aidmatrix became involved with the project the middle of last year. We have helped them with business plans, funding proposals, and technology solutions. I’ve had the opportunity to travel there 5 times over the last months. It was great seeing the food bank in operation. During this last trip, I helped setup the Aidmatrix warehouse system to assist them in managing their inventory. It was great meeting the people. Every one of them loved their job and happy they could work in a place to help the hungry in their nation.

The celebration event on April 6 included people from across the country from those involved in the setup of FoodBank South Africa and the community food banks to government officials to media and to those being served by the food bank. They had several entertainers. With the exception of the local comedian as MC, all the others were recipients of food.

Here are a few pictures from the event:

One of my favorite things was learning about the Lunch Buddies program. This is a program where the more affluent schools provide extra sandwiches for the less affluent schools. The students bring an extra lunch sack to school. Then they are collected each morning and then distributed to the other schools. One man told how his kids would not make their own lunch but wanted to make the extra sandwich to give away. What a great way to teach children about those in need.

This last picture is from just outside the warehouse as the sun was setting.

Shari Temple, Managing Director - Europe