You cannot teach a hungry child” was a theme for this year’s World Hunger Day, commemorated this week at Shiloh, a non-profit organisation in Brackenfell.
This World Hunger Day, Shiloh stressed the importance of supporting the hungry, especially the elderly and children who do not have food security.
According to Unicef South Africa spokeswoman Sandra Bisin, 13% of South Africans, according to 2016 data, experience hunger and the number is growing.
“Hunger and undernutrition contributes to more than half of global child deaths, as undernutrition can make children more vulnerable to illness and exacerbate disease,” she said.
Shiloh makes nearly 60 000 meals a month which are distributed to about 45 welfare organisations across Kraaifontein and Kuils River including daycare centres, churches and soup kitchens.
Estelle Veldman, managing director at Shiloh, said thousands of children went to school without food.
“This affects not only a child’s learning and development, but also their social skills and self-esteem.”
And elderly people finding it hard to survive on meagre state pensions sometimes went days without food.
“Some older people are found to be surviving with only one onion in their homes.
“This reiterates the urgency of the situation,” she said.
Ms Veldman said the aim was not only to feed the hungry but make the meal as nutritional as possible.
Shiloh is sponsored with fresh vegetables and meat from local farms.
The organisation believes in using fresh produce and cooks a variety of meals.
Shiloh also sells food vouchers to help the hungry. As part of the organisation’s World Hunger Day drive, meals are subsidised to R4.50, and if organisations or businesses want to buy more than 80 they will pay R3 a meal until the end of August.
Email estelle@shiloh.org.za for more information.