Meals on Wheels Community Services is honoured to join the global celebration of World Food Day, 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

Meals on Wheels Community Services has since 2017 embarked on upskilling their beneficiaries in order to decrease the ques of 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 meals are now able to produce their own food through backyard gardens as one of the skills taught at MOWCS.

From 2023 October more than 300 beneficiaries have been trained in (Confectionery, Food Preservation and Body Product manufacturing) out of these two coops have been established and are being mentored by MOWCS.

Meals on Wheels Community Services will commemorate its World Food Day this year on Friday, 25 October. 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 the products that they are producing. Meals on Wheels has 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 innovations that do not need much land for people to start producing their meals.

It has been an exciting journey supported by our strategic partners and donors to ensure no one is left behind, organisations like Wabtec, PepsiCo and government departments such as the Department of Correctional Services have made sure that Meals on Wheels continues making great change in the communities. 

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 showcase 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.
  • Hydroponics is one of the systems of farming that local communities are not aware of with a lack of land we established the system as part of agriculture learning, which is soil-less planting and plant production, we are also showcasing the system at the academy.

For more information, visit www.mow.org.za. You can also follow MOWCS on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on X. 

*Image courtesy of contributor