Food insecurity remains a significant challenge in South Africa, with many households struggling to put enough food on the table. To alleviate this, feeding schemes and food banks have emerged across the country to provide much-needed assistance. These programs, which range from soup kitchens to food banks and community initiatives, aim to ensure that no one goes hungry.

In this article, we will explore some of the most prominent feeding schemes in each province, guiding you to local food banks and programs that can help.

1. Gauteng

As South Africa’s economic hub, Gauteng has numerous feeding schemes designed to support the large number of residents facing hunger. Many non-profit organizations operate in both urban and township areas, providing meals and food parcels.

Key Feeding Schemes in Gauteng:

  1. FoodForward SA – Gauteng Branch
    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Contact: +27 (0)21 531 5670 | info@foodforwardsa.org
    • Website: www.foodforwardsa.org
    • About: FoodForward SA is one of South Africa’s largest food redistribution organizations, partnering with grocery retailers to recover surplus food for feeding schemes across Gauteng and beyond.
  2. Meals on Wheels Community Services
    • Location: Various locations in Gauteng
    • Contact: +27 (0)87 808 3558 | admin@mealsonwheels.org.za
    • Website: www.mealsonwheels.org.za
    • About: Meals on Wheels operates nationwide, delivering hot meals to vulnerable groups, including the elderly, as part of their extensive feeding scheme network.
  3. Gift of the Givers – Gauteng Branch
    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Contact: +27 (0)33 345 0163 | info@giftofthegivers.org
    • Website: www.giftofthegivers.org
    • About: Gift of the Givers provides food parcels and emergency relief through feeding schemes that operate during both crises and normal times across Gauteng.
  4. Ikageng Itireleng Aids Ministry
    • Location: Soweto
    • Contact: +27 (0)11 536 2373 | ikagengemail@gmail.com
    • Website: www.ikageng.org
    • About: This organization supports orphaned and vulnerable children with basic needs such as food through its comprehensive feeding scheme.
  5. The Teddy Bear Foundation
    • Location: Johannesburg
    • Contact: +27 (0)11 484 4554 | ttbc@ttbc.org.za
    • Website: www.ttbc.org.za
    • About: Provides food and essential support to children in abusive situations, ensuring their health through its feeding schemes.

2. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)

KwaZulu-Natal has a significant number of feeding schemes, many of which cater to the needs of rural and urban populations. Organizations focus on delivering hot meals and food parcels, particularly to underprivileged communities in Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Key Feeding Schemes in KZN:

  1. Durban Feeding Scheme
    • Location: Durban
    • Contact: +27 (0)31 306 8800 | info@durbanfeedingscheme.org
    • About: The Durban Feeding Scheme has been operating for years, providing thousands of meals daily to vulnerable populations in the Durban area.
  2. Gift of the Givers – Pietermaritzburg
    • Location: Pietermaritzburg
    • Contact: +27 (0)33 345 0163 | info@giftofthegivers.org
    • Website: www.giftofthegivers.org
    • About: This organization operates several feeding schemes throughout KZN, supplying food parcels to impoverished communities.
  3. LIV Village Feeding Scheme
    • Location: Durban
    • Contact: +27 (0)31 484 0560 | info@liv-village.com
    • Website: www.liv-village.com
    • About: LIV Village provides food, shelter, and education to orphaned and vulnerable children as part of its holistic care, with a dedicated feeding scheme for residents.
  4. Robin Hood Foundation
  5. Domino Foundation
    • Location: Durban North
    • Contact: +27 (0)31 563 9605 | info@domino.org.za
    • Website: www.domino.org.za
    • About: The Domino Foundation focuses on education and nutrition, with feeding schemes delivering nutritious meals to children in schools and early childhood development centers.

3. Western Cape

In the Western Cape, feeding schemes are critical for addressing hunger in both urban centers and rural areas. Many of these organizations serve the homeless, families in need, and vulnerable children.

Key Feeding Schemes in Western Cape:

  1. Ladles of Love
    • Location: Cape Town
    • Contact: +27 (0)71 346 0373 | info@ladlesoflove.org.za
    • Website: www.ladlesoflove.org.za
    • About: Ladles of Love runs multiple soup kitchens across Cape Town, serving up to 20,000 meals weekly through its extensive feeding scheme.
  2. Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA)
    • Location: Cape Town
    • Contact: +27 (0)21 447 6020 | info@psfa.org.za
    • Website: www.psfa.org.za
    • About: PSFA provides meals to over 26,000 children at schools across the province, ensuring that they receive at least one nutritious meal a day through its feeding scheme.
  3. Community Chest of the Western Cape
    • Location: Cape Town
    • Contact: +27 (0)21 424 3344 | info@comchest.org.za
    • Website: www.comchest.org.za
    • About: This organization runs feeding schemes and distributes food parcels to underprivileged families across the Western Cape.
  4. SA Harvest
    • Location: Cape Town
    • Contact: +27 (0)87 701 6488 | info@saharvest.org
    • Website: www.saharvest.org
    • About: Rescuing surplus food from businesses, SA Harvest redistributes it through feeding schemes to those in need.
  5. Ubuntu House (Cape Town Refugee Centre)
    • Location: Bellville
    • Contact: +27 (0)21 934 7605 | info@ubuntuhouse.co.za
    • Website: www.ubuntuhouse.co.za
    • About: Ubuntu House provides food and shelter to refugees and asylum seekers, offering meals as part of its feeding scheme.

4. Eastern Cape

Feeding schemes in the Eastern Cape are vital, especially in rural areas where food insecurity is more pronounced. These programs focus on providing nutritious food to families and vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.

Key Feeding Schemes in Eastern Cape:

  1. Ikhala Trust
  2. Harvest of Hope (Abalimi Bezekhaya)
    • Location: Khayelitsha and Philippi
    • Contact: +27 (0)21 371 1653 | info@abalimi.org.za
    • Website: www.abalimi.org.za
    • About: This urban farming initiative helps grow fresh produce for feeding schemes in low-income communities.
  3. Khula Community Development Project
    • Location: Mthatha
    • Contact: +27 (0)47 531 1450 | khulacommunity@gmail.com
    • About: Khula’s feeding schemes aim to reduce hunger and promote self-sufficiency through food distribution and skills training.
  4. Masiphathisane Development Organisation
    • Location: Port Elizabeth
    • Contact: +27 (0)41 452 4449
    • About: This organization runs feeding schemes focused on youth and family support in disadvantaged areas.
  5. Human Dignity Centre
    • Location: East London
    • Contact: +27 (0)43 722 4841 | info@humandignity.org.za
    • About: Provides meals and educational resources to children and families through its extensive feeding schemes.

5. Mpumalanga

  1. Solidarity Helping Hand
  2. Mpumalanga Foodbank
    • Location: Nelspruit
    • Contact: +27 (0)13 755 3447
  3. Feed SA
  4. Mothers’ Love Feeding Scheme
    • Location: Witbank
    • Contact: +27 (0)13 692 3838
  5. Siyathuthuka Development Centre
    • Location: Secunda
    • Contact: +27 (0)17 631 1840

6. North West

  1. North West Community Food and Nutrition Development Centre
    • Location: Mahikeng
    • Contact: +27 (0)18 381 1212
  2. FAMSA North West
  3. Sunshine Children’s Home
    • Location: Klerksdorp
    • Contact: +27 (0)18 462 2422
  4. Hands of Compassion Feeding Scheme
    • Location: Rustenburg
    • Contact: +27 (0)71 127 2326
  5. Gift of the Givers – North West

7. Limpopo

  1. Gift of the Givers – Polokwane
  2. Meals on Wheels Polokwane
    • Location: Polokwane
    • Contact: +27 (0)15 293 0297
  3. Sithandiwe Foundation
    • Location: Tzaneen
    • Contact: +27 (0)15 307 5116
  4. Thusa Bana Community Project
    • Location: Mankweng
    • Contact: +27 (0)15 267 0055
  5. Hoedspruit Rotary Club Food Project
    • Location: Hoedspruit
    • Contact: +27 (0)15 793 0819

8. Free State

  1. Salvation Army – Bloemfontein
  2. Central Free State Charity
    • Location: Bloemfontein
    • Contact: +27 (0)51 522 1741
  3. FoodForward SA – Free State Branch
  4. Hope House Bloemfontein
    • Location: Bloemfontein
    • Contact: +27 (0)51 448 8370
  5. Children’s Feeding Trust
    • Location: Welkom
    • Contact: +27 (0)57 352 5408

9. Northern Cape

  1. South African Red Cross Society – Kimberley
  2. Caritas Kimberley
    • Location: Kimberley
    • Contact: +27 (0)53 831 1090
  3. Sisters of Mercy Feeding Project
    • Location: Springbok
    • Contact: +27 (0)27 712 1042
  4. Eureka Soup Kitchen
    • Location: Upington
    • Contact: +27 (0)54 331 0021
  5. Namaqua Children’s Project
    • Location: Springbok
    • Contact: +27 (0)27 712 3027

Related: NGOs Offering Free Tutoring Services for Matric Students

Across South Africa, food banks and feeding schemes are stepping up to provide critical support to individuals and families facing hunger. These programs play a vital role in combating food insecurity, offering hope and dignity to vulnerable communities. Whether you’re in a major city or a rural village, there are organizations near you that are ready to help.

By reaching out to these food support initiatives, you can find assistance or even contribute to the fight against hunger in your own community.

Share.