Cape Town - It was all hands on deck as the University of the Western Cape (UWC) rallied together on Wednesday to distribute food parcels to hundreds of students in need.
In recognition of World Food Day, the UWC community organised the food-packing event with support from various organisations and volunteers.
Observed annually by 150 countries, World Food Day is a response to the global call for action against food insecurity. Director of Institutional Advancement at UWC, Professor Anesh Singh, emphasised the importance of making a positive impact for the benefit of students.
“Many of our students attend classes without having a fully nutritious meal and this is why we believe that at this point in time, in commemoration of World Food Day, that we need to make a collection to help students,” he said.
The month-long campaign received backing from notable figures like Leah Tutu and the Desmond Tutu IP Trust, along with support from Shoprite/ Checkers, Tiger Brands, and the Gift of the Givers Foundation.
Other businesses, including Woolworths and the Fix, also joined the effort to help.
Tara McKinnon, a first-year Education student and volunteer, highlighted that malnutrition is a significant factor affecting students' behaviour and academic success.
“The community where I come from, I have experienced hunger first-hand, this is something that I have always been passionate about,” she said.
Student Caylin Gertse said the drive was important for hundreds of students. “As a student you need energy. Being a part of this hits close to home as someone from the Cape Flats.
“I think it's important to spread the word on this,” she said.
Ali Sablay, project manager at Gift of the Givers, said they received numerous requests from educational institutions for assistance over the years.
“Some of them are not able to afford daily groceries or be able to have a daily meal. We are here to support the food bank programme in ensuring that no student goes hungry at this institution,” Sablay said.
External affairs director at Tiger Brands, Lulu Khumalo, said they contributed items such as rice, maize, peanut butter, instant porridge, baked beans, and more.
A stand-out moment yesterday was when volunteers formed a long line to assist in packing the grocery bags for students.
“It is very important for us as a food company whose purpose is to nourish and merge more lives every day. These students are our future leaders, they will be driving the economy,” said Khumalo.
The UWC Food Bank is the main beneficiary, working to combat student hunger on campus and ensuring that students receive support for their studies in a respectful and discreet way.
In addition, Titan Cargo has pledged to collaborate with Gift of the Givers to supply monthly food hampers for students during initiations across the country.
byron.lukas@inl.co.za