South African Expats Help Feed Village in Mpumalanga

On the 6th of July I started a fundraiser for a desperately poor community in Allemansdrift B in Mpumalanga, South Africa, after engaging in a long messenger chat with a former charity worker called Kelly about this community and the work she and Lydia (a community resident and village elder) were trying to do… writes SA expat Kate Crossland.

At that point, despite their best efforts, energy, past expertise in NGO work and passion, due to the mounting pressures of CV19 on every community in SA, it was proving incredibly difficult to raise funds. I started a fundraiser – www.facebook.com/donate/624396034950653/ – in the hope that my friends in the UK may be willing to donate £’s. Thanks to Jenni at @SAPeople, who shared my original story, we have now raised £3,450 to date. Thank you to each of you that has read of the fundraiser previously and donated or shared.

We have been involved in three hugely successful distribution days so far.

Shoprite Siyabuswa, where Kelly has always shopped for food parcel contents have recently, due to the volume of food being purchased, agreed to deliver the food, sent a mobile soup kitchen, donated blankets, contributed to food parcels and most recently have just agreed a fantastic price for a specific food parcel which represents an R80 saving. Normally the food parcel would be R250. Till the 6th of September Kelly is able to purchase this parcel for R138 or £6.25. Truly every £ counts!!! (Donate here.)

We have enough money at the moment to purchase 150 parcels but need to raise money for a further 154 to reach everyone that has an urgent need for food relief. This would mean that we will have fed 1000 families in this dire time.

We have always recognised that this is a short term but necessary solution but, in ending this post, I would like to share that one of our super donors, @eniwechildren’sfund have offered to fund a borehole for the community.

In the background of all these food parcels, Kelly has always been working on a long term solution to draw this community away from food poverty to a self-subsisting way of life and providing water is the first step.

If you would like to get involved in our onward journey please join our group – www.facebook.com/groups/283888782942286/ – as this current fundraiser has to end on the 4th October, however I can assure you the work will not and we will be launching a new fundraiser plus backabuddy campaign in October of 2020 geared solely towards creating viable and sustainable programs to offer food security long term.

Thank you so much for being part of this incredible story.
With much love, thanks and blessings to you all ?
Kate, Kelly and the Allemansdrift B community

Please Donate here.