One of South Africa’s leading food relief organisations, whose ageing and unreliable vehicle was threatening its operations, received a massive boost recently, with the donation of a brand new
R405 000 truck, significantly enhancing its capacity to deliver critical nutrition to the needy without interruption.
Ladles of Love, founded in 2014 and based in Epping, Cape Town, exists to assist people to thrive physically, emotionally and spiritually by providing access to nutritious food with love, dignity and respect. Through sustainable food sourcing, support for local farmers and the empowerment of food entrepreneurs, Ladles of Love works tirelessly to develop resilient communities and a future where every person in South Africa is able to enjoy the nourishment and opportunity to live with hope and purpose. Uninterrupted provision of food to disadvantaged individuals and communities was ensured by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT) stepping in to deliver a very necessary new vehicle.
Commenting on the organisation’s financial assistance, SAMCT representative, Mr Wasiem Abbas, said: “Ladles of Love’s food relief operations is absolutely vital in an age when, sadly, so many of our citizens face severe hunger every day. However, to sustain and grow its impact, a reliable, purpose-built vehicle is essential to its range of support programmes.”
He added that the organisation’s daily operations involved transporting bulk food supplies, fresh produce, educational resources and event materials between its central warehouse and multiple sites in Cape Town, Johannesburg and the Northern Cape.
Ladles of Love started as a small soup kitchen, but has grown into one of South Africa’s leading volunteer-driven food relief organisations. Guided by a commitment to dignity and compassion, the organisation has served more than 45 million meals to vulnerable adults and children, mobilised in excess of 12 000 volunteers and developed innovative programmes to address both immediate hunger and long-term food security. Its flagship ‘Nourish Our Children’ initiative currently supports more than 14 000 children and their teachers with daily nutritious meals, complemented by training in nutrition and food preparation. Ladles of Love also operates large-scale community feeding and urban farming initiatives through ‘Feed the Soil,’ as well as skills development opportunities, which are designed to contribute towards sustainable change.
Mr Wasiem Abbas said: “There can be no doubt that with its proven impact – more than 45 million meals served – and extensive operations, reliable logistics is a fundamental imperative for Ladles of Love’s continued wide-scale relief operations. Learning that the organisation’s existing vehicle was no longer up to the job, the SAMCT was pleased to be able to fund the provision of a replacement vehicle capable of ensuring the cost-effective execution of its high-volume, multi-province distribution needs.”
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and
Al Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds. The organisation provides funding, services and other resources to improve the lives of the vulnerable,
deprived and disadvantaged. It has successfully delivered sizeable assistance solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work to support needy organisations in the fields of healthcare, social development, poverty alleviation and education. The organisation has long served as a pivotal conduit for the channelling of funding, vital services, and resources to approved public benefit organisations, and remains committed to catalysing positive change and creating a lasting impact on the development and upliftment of, especially, disadvantaged individuals and communities. Its funds are distributed to help improve the health and development of deserving people and organisations, irrespective of race or religion.
“Our investment in Ladles of Love’s vehicle requirement will, I am sure, contribute directly towards further enhancing the organisation’s capacity to deliver critical nutrition programmes without interruption – a critical factor in food relief service delivery in South Africa, where so many vulnerable communities face extreme hunger daily, Mr Wasiem Abbas said.
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za
www.samct.co.za