Press Release: Muslim Hands Launches Open Kitchen to Feed the Poor
Over half of the South African population is living below the poverty line, and millions of people are struggling to afford food on a daily basis. Over the past two years, the economy has detrimentally affected millions of South Africans who have lost their jobs and livelihoods to the strict lockdowns and riots.
As a result, millions of children living in poverty are suffering from malnourishment and a statistic reported that 27% of South Africans under the age of five are stunted. Providing our children with nutritious healthy meals to sustain their physical and mental health is an important part of our responsibility as a society. Children who survive poor nutrition are faced with illnesses such as impaired cognitive development, stunted growth, and even blindness which can hinder their ability to develop into fully functional adults.
At Muslim Hands, we understand our responsibility to provide the vulnerable in our community with access to nutritious food. As such, our staff on the ground is working tirelessly to conduct weekly bread distributions in informal settlements, orphanages and safe houses across the Western Cape and provide healthy warm meals to hundreds of individuals weekly through The Open Kitchen.
The Open Kitchen
In response to the growing food insecurity and rise in poverty in South Africa, Muslim Hands launched a community kitchen to feed the vulnerable and poor in our communities. The Open Kitchen is located in Rylands, Athlone where hundreds of poor, homeless, elderly and disabled individuals are provided with warm meals and nutritious food.
With your support, The Open Kitchen inaugurated on Friday 8 October 2021 as a means of overcoming the rising food insecurity within the country. Over 300 poor and needy people were provided with warm meals (Akhni), bread and ice-lollies as refreshers to overcome the scorching heat. Majority of the beneficiaries were unemployed and thanked the Muslim Hands staff members wholeheartedly for their warm meals. Beneficiaries also prayed for the donors who supported the first feeding of The Open Kitchen knowing they did not have to go to sleep hungry on an empty stomach that day.
Through your donations, hundreds of homeless, poor, elderly and disabled individuals in our communities are assisted with nutritious meals through The Open Kitchen, ensuring the less fortunate do not go hungry.
The Prophet (saw) said, “He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while his neighbor goes hungry” [Bukhari]
You too can practice the Sunnah of our Prophet (saw) and help feed the poor, vulnerable and needy in our communities by supporting The Open Kitchen. Click here to donate online, or call our office on 021 633 6413 and we will readily assist. Alternately, you can also visit our premises at 30 Ernest Road, Rylands to help feed the hungry today!
