Homeless and destitute receive meals from good samaritans

Good samaritans helped to feed destitute families at the weekend, with organisers saying they wanted to provide at least one meal to the homeless and needy until the national lockdown has been lifted.

Scores of people were given food in Amalinda Forest and Amalinda Stoney Drift as part of the initiative.

Destitute families, whose struggle to put food on the table was worsened by the 21-day lockdown, were also armed with tips to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Families were served bread, soup, biscuits and sweets.

Lonwabo Yiliwe, owner of Yiliwe Funeral Suppliers, which organised the event, said the occasion created a diner feel for the homeless and was an opportunity some had never experienced in their lives.

Yiliwe said the cost for the occasion was covered by generous friends after seeing the need to act.

He said giving to the less fortunate should not be once-off but a daily occurrence.

“The people we are helping have been thrown out of their comfort zones and that is affecting how they go about surviving on a daily basis.

“The lockdown is affecting them negatively. The help we provide, as little as it may be, makes a difference.

“We could not sit back and watch but had to act and make a difference,” Yiliwe said.

“We are hoping to continue with this every day until the last day of lockdown.

“Some of the people don’t have IDs and that makes it difficult for them to qualify in other government-funded programmes meant to help them.”

Beneficiary  Nomonde Jack said she was grateful for the initiative.

“Most people in this area are underprivileged and survive on nothing. This has made a difference,” Jack said.

Another beneficiary, Nomantombazana Dyonase, said: “This help came at the right time. We are hoping that this will not be the end.”

The initiative comes two weeks after Buffalo City Metro identified eight shelters to house the homeless for the duration of the lockdown.

The shelters include some in Glen Eagles, Berlin, Mdantsane, Dimbaza, King William’s Town, Scenery Park and Southernwood.