GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS – The Garden Route Food Pantry (GRFP) received a huge boost when the first batch of superior micronutrient supplements worth more than R17 000 000 from Nutrilite, was delivered to them on Monday 5 July.

This donation forms part of the international Power of 5 campaign (Po5) which will now also be rolled out in the Garden Route by the GRFP in association with the Acorn Foundation in Gauteng.

The Acorn Foundation focuses on projects that are sustainable and will make a positive and lasting impact in the lives of vulnerable children and communities in need. Providing clothes, shoes, toiletries, access to health care, as well as hunger and poverty alleviation, are a mere handful of the services they provide.

“This means 10 000 children in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across the region will benefit for a whole year,” says Carl van Blerk, founder and MD of the GRFP. “These Nutrilite supplements are valued at R143 per child per month and, thanks to the Acorn Foundation, the GRFP has been selected to run this micronutrient supplement programme in the Garden Route, which will ensure that all nutrient deficiencies are addressed.”

According to Van Blerk, Nutrilite is the only vitamin and mineral brand to grow, harvest and process plants on its own certified organic farms across California, Washington State, Mexico, and Brazil.

“The Po5 programme aims to fight malnutrition by providing children between the ages of six months and five years with all their daily required micronutrients and minerals by mixing the Nutrilite micronutrient powder into their porridge or meal daily,” he says.

Van Blerk says the children in the programme will be monitored three times per year to determine the success.

“We have two qualified nurses on staff, who will be managing the project and ensuring safe and responsible distribution to, and assessment of, those children most in need. We cannot just feed children for the sake of putting food in their stomachs. The food needs to be healthy enough to be beneficial to physical and mental growth,” says Van Blerk.

Skills development

As part of the Po5 project, the GRFP and the Acorn Foundation will also be launching skill development programmes for the many women in the ECD centres across the Garden Route.

“We are proud of the amazing strides we have already made in combatting hunger, as we have surpassed 900 000 meals already acquired by the pantry for distribution through a vetted network of soup kitchens and feeding centres. This is all with thanks to our Friends of the Food Pantry, made up of individuals and businesses who see value in the vision we have,” says Van Blerk.