Some thoughts on getting food to where it needs to go.
Based on my perception and anecdotal evidence...
At church we are packing food parcels. 30 this past week - but I think we'll need to ramp up over the next few weeks and maybe our sanctuary will need to be a food parcel factory from now on until later. We can clear the factory floor for Sunday Worship.
The devastating hunger that has led to the looting of delivery trucks made me think a bit about how to get food to where it needs to go.
As church what we are able to do is get a decent weekly box together to help people from the congregation whom we know are going to be going hungry at this time. We opt for food not money because money gets way too complicated. Food is easier to do - and working in bulk we can save a bit.
I'm not sure our list is optimised but this is it:
2kg Mielie Meal
500g oats
1kg Rice
1kg flour
Yeast for making bread (not beer :)
2 minute noodles (pack of 5)
500ml Oil
1l Milk (Long life)
Tea (Small pack)
Coffee (Small tin)
Sugar (500g)
Some Stock Cubes
5 Packets Soup
Tin Pilchards
Baked Beans
Peanut Butter
Toothpaste
Soap
Sanitary pads
I think bulk deliveries / soup kitchens and supermarkets are not the best way to get food into settlements. The best way to avoid looting etc. would be an attempt to saturate the need on a house by house basis. Hopefully giving households enough to be able to share.
Sharing is possible if the household receiving can be assured of a regular (weekly) supply of basic goods. And if this leads to an informal bartering economy that is also acceptable.
Discussing fresh produce it was pointed out that informal traders sell individual potatoes etc. for reasonable prices. Although some of the feedback I have received is that butternut, onions and potatoes can go a long way and if food parcels are moving quickly we can pack and distribute before packed staples go off.
Many of the folks who live in Dunoon work in Table View, Killarney Gardens and Montague Gardens. It would be good if somehow employers in these areas could make arrangements to get food parcels to their employees in a Covid Safe way... Minimising contact and travel.
Formal churches with connections in communities // Catholic, Anglican, Baptist etc. could work through their suburban connections to support their township brothers and sisters with the goal of upping food and sustenance supply in impoverished areas.
I am reluctant about the voucher program and I would like to see it improved to help the informal economy... Improve the Voucher Program.
The voucher program through computicket shoprite etc. is OK - but I'd like to see money going to the informal economy.
It would be good if 'shoppers' could use their 'vouchers' at the spaza etc. for some sort of profit share margin (a little bit more expensive than at the shop, but traders could get first option on bulk supplies coming in to the stores).
If traders are sourcing their produce elsewhere if they are able to use shoprite voucher systems to trade they could go in and buy other supplies / exchange for cash with their cards.
South African / City of Cape Town urban development doesn't properly appreciate the role of street vendors and informal trade in the South African city. There is a ton of bartering / soft credit / ubuntu based community trade happening and it is a fundamental barrier to extreme poverty.
