KZN Bishops and Laity Pack Meals for Needy Children

by Erin Carelse · Published November 20, 2017 · Updated November 17, 2017

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban (left) and Bishop Zolile Peter Mpambani of Kokstad, with Bishop Graham Rose of Dundee (background) packing meals for children in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Catholic bishops of KwaZulu-Natal led a group of 80 priests, nuns, youth, and men and women in packing the first 10 000 of a total of 35 000 meals for children in the province.

The packing event, part of Phase 1 of a partnership between Caritas KZN and Rise against Hunger, is aimed at addressing child malnutrition and hunger.

Rise against Hunger is an international hunger-relief organisation that distributes food and aid to the world’s most vulnerable.

The KwaZulu-Natal bishops learnt at a presentation during the annual general meeting of Caritas KZN, that 492 000 children go to bed hungry.

This drove a response from the Church, and the formation of the Love in Action — Izenzo Zothando Food Programme.

The long-term plan is to provide ongoing support throughout the seven dioceses that make up the metropolitan region of the Church in KwaZulu-Natal through the food programme.

Phase 1 will run through December, and there will be a packing event in each of the seven dioceses in which 5000 meals will be packed.

After evaluating Phase 1, the hope is that Phase 2 will start in January 2018.