Meals on Wheels Community Services – Our Commitment to a Hunger-Free South Africa

Meals on Wheels Community Services is honoured to join the global celebration of World Food Day this year, aligning our mission with the theme of fighting hunger and promoting food security. As part of the national body, Meals on Wheels Community Services South Africa (MOWCS SA), we remain dedicated to creating a hunger-free South Africa through our initiatives in food security, poverty alleviation, and capacity building.

Our Commitment to a Hunger-Free South Africa

MOWCS SA, a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), operates a vast network across the country, reaching deep into communities through six area offices and 180 community kitchens. With the help of 240 delivery vehicles, we deliver daily meals to the most vulnerable in our society, ensuring that no one goes to bed hungry.

In the past year alone, we have proudly served over 31 million meals across all nine provinces, thanks to our national footprint. Yet, as unemployment continues to rise (currently at 27%) and more than 14 million people face daily hunger, the challenges are immense. Despite our efforts, we are constantly reminded of the many individuals we have yet to reach.

Beyond Meals: A Comprehensive Approach to Welfare

Since 2017, Meals on Wheels Community Services have embarked on upskilling their beneficiaries to decrease the queues coming to get a plate of food. This has been a game changer for both the beneficiaries and the organisation as it has given a new perspective and hope for a changed life. Beneficiaries that were only just receiving a plate of meal are now able to produce their own food through backyard gardens as one of the skills taught at MOWCS. Since October 2023, more than 300 beneficiaries have been trained in (Confectionery, Food Preservation and Body Product manufacturing) out of these 2 coops have been established and are being mentored by MOWCS.

Meals on Wheels Community Services will commemorate World Food Day on 25 October 2024. It will showcase the skills development given to the more than 300 beneficiaries and exhibit the success story of the newly established cooperatives who will be present and showcase their products that they are producing. Meals on Wheels have supported these cooperatives with a start-up pack for all their branding needs and capital to continue operating.

“We will also be showcasing our new hydroponics tunnels that are aimed at training and inciting excitement of agriculture back to our people, smart farming and new farming innovation that does not need much land for people to start producing their meals”, said the CFO. “It has been an exciting journey supported by our strategic partners and donors to ensure no one is left behind, organisations such as Wabtec, PepsiCo and government departments, Dept of Correctional Services, have made sure that Meals on Wheels continues making a great change in the communities,” stated Mr Bhebhe.

World Food Day 2024: A Call to Action

World Food Day is not just a time to reflect on the issues of hunger but also a moment to act. At MOWCS, we understand that eradicating hunger requires collaboration and sustained efforts. As part of our ongoing mission to fight hunger, we are calling on the public, businesses, and government bodies to unite with us to:

• Showcasing
• Beauty Products Manufacturing through agro-processing, where beneficiaries will show case beauty products manufactured from plant processing such as organic facial soaps, lip balms and healing ointment.
• Food Preservation, where beneficiaries will showcase products made from preserving food such as jam, chutneys, dried fruits and spices ect.
• Hydroponics is one of the systems of farming, which local communities are not aware of with lack of land we establish the system as part of agriculture learning, which is soil less planting and plant production, we also showcasing the system at the academy.  
• Support sustainable solutions: Through food security initiatives and community-driven programs, we aim to create long-term solutions for poverty alleviation through skills development.