Monte Christo Ministries feeds 5 000 daily
2009-08-27
Liezl Dyson
THE Monte Christo Ministries (MSM) Food Centre in Paarl feeds an average of 5 000 people on a daily basis. This includes schoolchildren, smaller children at soup kitchens and patients in Paarl Hospital and Sonstraal Hospital. The Food Centre, situated in Dal Josaphat industrial area, opened its doors in May 2008 and feeds 2701 schoolchildren daily in Paarl, Wellington, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Strand, Blue Downs and Kuils River. MSM is funded by the Peninsula School Feeding Programme. According to Aletia Grundling, the manager, workers prepare the food throughout the night so that it is fresh and ready to be delivered to all the different schools. She said that they primarily focus on children and that they recognise the hunger needs. “There are children who cannot look after themselves, being dependent on their parents to feed them, but the parents do not have work. This means there is no food for the children. “We cook the menu which the government prescribes for the schools on a daily basis and prepare a nutritious mix of vegetable soup and sandwiches for the local kids. “We also bake brown and white bread, hamburger and hotdog rolls and Buttermilk rusks,” Grundling said. Their goal is to feed as many children as possible who are really in need. They also serve as an educational centre. “Schools and college groups visit the Food Centre and do their practical studies which they can use as part of their curriculum. “We strive to link up with as many service organisations, churches, businesses and individuals as possible. They buy from us and distribute where the need occurs. This gives us the opportunity to serve the larger community as a whole.” MSM’s Food Centre is a VAT registered company and also sells its products to the public, because MSM must generate its own money to buy ingredients to prepare the finished product and pay for the overhead costs. Those interested to buy baked goods and soup from the Food Centre can contact 021-868-2251. The staff that work at the Food Centre are all skilled staff who got their training from Boland College and Sasko. Any donations can be done in the account of Monte Christo Ministries, Nedbank, Code: 149821, account number: 1498109292. For more information about Monte Christo Ministries, visit www.montechristoministries.co.za. * The Paarl Rotary Club will raise funds for MSM and other deserving local organisations with their wine, art and jewellery auction on 5 September at L’Avenir Wine Estate on the R44 outside Stellenbosch. Tickets for the auction sell at R250 per person. The price includes pre-dinner canapés, a sumptuous three-course dinner, wine on the tables and live music. This gala event has already established itself as one of the high-lights on the annual social calendar of the winelands. To avoid missing out on a night of superb fun, book with Maya Friederich on 021-807-3007 or email friederm@kwv.co.za.
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