When severe flooding affected communities across the Western Cape, many families were left facing the difficult task of rebuilding their lives while also meeting their most basic daily needs.
Through the support of generous donors and partners, FoodForward SA was able to rapidly mobilise food relief to affected communities across Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Mfuleni and Suurbraak. Working with our network of beneficiary organisations, nutritious meals reached vulnerable households when they needed them most.
While FoodForward SA facilitated the recovery and distribution of food, it was our beneficiary organisations on the ground who transformed that support into daily meals, hope, and practical relief for flood affected families.
Reaching Families in Mfuleni
Women for Peace, a community upliftment organisation based in Mfuleni, expanded its soup kitchen programme after the floods to support residents of the Burundi informal settlement.
The organisation has prepared and delivered cooked meals five days a week to families affected by the disaster. With support from FoodForward SA, they received a mix of non-perishable foods, vegetables, and protein products, enabling them to provide consistent daily meals.
The organisation also established an additional feeding point to reach more residents and identified other pressing needs within the community, including access to documentation and school registration support for children.
One beneficiary, a 56-year-old woman from the settlement, shared:
“I came here hungry, but now I have food. I am also looking for work so I can support my children. When my children come home from school, I don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from.”
For many families, access to regular meals has reduced stress and provided stability while they focus on rebuilding their lives.
Extending Relief in Gugulethu
In Gugulethu, Yizani Sakhe Organisation stepped in to ensure food reached vulnerable residents in NY3 and surrounding areas.
According to the organisation, children were often the first to welcome volunteers, eager to receive a nutritious meal. Elderly residents also relied heavily on the support, with many making every effort to reach the feeding point despite mobility challenges.
Additional fruit recovered through FoodForward SA’s donor network was distributed alongside meals, providing further nutritional support to community members.
The organisation also reflected on the broader impact that reliable food support has on community wellbeing and resilience:
“During our outreach and awareness campaigns, FoodForward SA’s name always comes up because your impact is not a want, but a need. Every time we collect stock, we know it means more food and less hunger. This keeps our community’s mindset positive.”
While the relief effort has brought meaningful support to many households, Yizani Sakhe notes that the need within the community remains significant.
Supporting Children and Caregivers in Khayelitsha
For Khumbulani Health Education and Resource Centre in Khayelitsha, the floods added further pressure to already vulnerable households.
Food support provided through FoodForward SA enabled the organisation to continue serving nutritious meals to children and families while maintaining its educational and aftercare programmes.
The organisation reported that regular meals helped reduce hunger, improved concentration among children, and eased pressure on families struggling to recover after the floods.
One story that stood out was that of an 85-year-old grandmother caring for three grandchildren while managing her own health challenges. During a meal distribution, she asked for three additional plates for the children in her care.
The family had been struggling to prepare meals, and the oldest child was balancing schoolwork with caregiving responsibilities. Access to regular meals provided much needed relief, ensuring the family had food each day and helping the children remain focused at school and in aftercare activities.
According to the organisation, this support helped restore hope and dignity while ensuring children continued to receive the nutrition needed for healthy growth and learning.
A Collective Response
These stories represent just a few of the many communities supported through FoodForward SA’s Western Cape flood response. They highlight the critical role played by our beneficiary organisations, whose local knowledge, commitment, and community presence ensured that food reached those who needed it most.
As recovery efforts continue, we extend our sincere thanks to Mars, Tiger Brands, OneFarm Impact, Massmart, The Noodle Factory, Nedbank, and Vumatel for helping provide nutritious meals to families affected by the floods. Your support enabled communities across the Western Cape to focus on recovery and rebuilding during an incredibly challenging time.
