For many years, our club has run an annual Christmas Food Collection to make up 90 – 100 Christmas Food Parcels for needy pensioners., whose names are given by Meals on Wheels. We collect food donations from shoppers outside local supermarkets, handing the shoppers fliers and talking to them to explain what we are doing.
We owe a lot to the supermarkets and shopping centres who have given us permission to collect there, and we also commend the staff, who have been unfailingly helpful and supportive. Mostly, we have been astonished every year by the kindness of the donors – the public have always given very generously, even during difficult economic times. A few shoppers have even give little gifts or bought coffees for the collectors. Once all the food is collected, we break down larger packs of rice and sugar into more manageable portions for our food parcels. While we are grateful for all donations, we try to ensure the biggest variety of foodstuffs in each parcel. We also collect cash from those who offer it, which is needed to buy additional food to even out the different categories of food in each parcel.
Last year, we had 7 days of very successful collections at 3 local shopping centres. In addition, we received a very generous donation of 6 food packages and some additional cash donations. The Sugar and Spice Early Learning Centre very generously donated a large box of groceries too. We were able not only to provide Christmas Food Parcels to our intended recipients, but to donate groceries to our neighbouring Rotary Club of Melkbos for them to distribute to pensioners in their area.