Members of the Mandela People's Market with donations of food and clothes

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Mandela People's Market helps Food Bank THE Mandela People's Market has donated fruit, vegetables and clothes to the needy, through the recently established Food Bank. June 30, 2005 By Lucky Sindane THE Mandela People's Market has extended a helping hand to the needy by donating fresh fruit and vegetables, and clothes, to the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market's Food Bank. The hand-over ceremony took place at Hall 1 of the market on Thursday, 30 June. Attending the event was the market's chief executive officer, Barnard Magabe; the chairman of the Mandela People's Market, Themba Radebe; and members of the Mandela People's Market and officials from the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market (JFPM). The Food Bank, officially launched by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Amos Masondo on 22 June, aims to help feed about 5 000 children across the city who have been orphaned by HIV/Aids. It is a joint venture between the JFPM and the City's department of health and social development. Fresh foodstuff will be distributed to orphanages, old age centres and homeless people. The market's wholesale suppliers will provide the fruit and vegetables. Distribution to the needy will start immediately. The Mandela People's Market is a satellite market based at the JFPM. It houses a group of informal traders who sell produce bought from the main market, to the public, in smaller quantities. Speaking at the presentation, Magabe said, "HIV/Aids is killing our families. Every weekend families bury their loved ones who have died because of this pandemic. The people who are affected by and infected with this pandemic are our customers; let us show them we care. "I'm speaking with passion on this subject because it is a national crisis. This project is going to live on." He thanked the traders for their support. "Whenever the call for help goes out you are always there to help us and I am sure this is not going to end here, but grow." Magabe encouraged guests to donate anything they would otherwise discard. "That loaf of bread that you might throw away and those old grey school pants can really help those who are in need." Radebe said, "We are very touched by this project. We started very small and we know very well how it feels to be in those people's shoes." He promised to continue supporting the Food Bank. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za