Cape Town - The spirit of giving this festive season extended across religious communities, as people across religious and cultural denominations rallied together to ensure families were fed on Christmas Day.
Several mass feedings took place, with many hands assisting on the day to make sure hundreds of people were able to have a warm and hearty meal on the special day.
Claremont Main Road Mosque congregation contributed to three 110 litre pots of food, forming part of Bond Food Relief’s Mass Christmas Feeding.
Bond Food Relief director, Parihan Shakeela Abbas, said they managed to make 44 pots of 100 litre pots of food which was distributed in Freedom Park, Lentegeur, Lost City, Hanover Park, Manenberg, Mfuleni, Strand, Eerste River, Blikkiesdorp and Heideveld.
“Feeding was funded by various individuals or businesses within the local community. We fed more than 15 000 people this Christmas,” Abbas said.
Moreson MJ Voedingskema with Muslim Hands and several others assisted with providing a hearty meal to more than 100 seniors and children.
“We are here to feed those in need and help others where we can,” Moreson MJ Voedingskema chairperson Marquline Cedras-Jordaan said.
Muslim Hands South Africa CEO Ierfaan Cassiem said the organisation was approached by Moreson MJ Voedingskema in November to assist.
The organisation provided bulk main ingredients which assisted in feeding approximately 160 people in Robertson on the day.
Gift of the Givers (GOTG) project manager, Ali Sablay, said they distributed more than 2 000 food hampers.
“The day before Christmas, we received an urgent call from Laingsburg. We were informed that 100 families have nothing to eat, to put on the table for Christmas, so we assisted them as well,” Sablay said.
GOTG also supported 75 soup kitchens for their Christmas mass feed.
The GOTG' Santa Clause travelling through the Cape Flats and townships distributed 5 000 party packets to children to spread some festive joy.
“In the days leading up to Christmas, the organisation distributed 36 tons of vegetables to various old age homes, orphanages, and to facilities for the physically and mentally challenged,” Sablay said.
Its nationwide programmes started as early as one week before Christmas. The organisation also donated 20 wheelchairs to people unable to afford it and have been waiting 10-15 years for one.
Charity organisation in Kewtown, Chev’s Kitchen, provided meals and treats to seniors and children in the community.