Meals on Wheels going strong in the EFS

The well-known Meals on Wheels Community Services (MOWCS) organisation was founded in South Africa in 1964, with hundreds of kitchens still operating to this day.

The Bethlehem Branch of MOWCS is currently assisting communities all over the Eastern Free State, as far as Senekal, Kestell, Paul Roux, Clarens, Ficksburg, Qwa-Qwa and Harrismith. The branch operates from Bethlehem, from the ChangeNetSA Warehouse facility in Commissioner Street, as well as from the Meals on Wheels kitchen on the New Beginnings premises in Môrelig.

A variety of soup kitchens are supplied with soup prepared and frozen in the Môrelig kitchen. Dry products as well as fresh produce, purchased from farmers in the area, are distributed to many entities in the area. These include children’s homes - Senekal, Ficksburg, Memel and Bohlokong, to name a few. Several senior facilities receive assistance, e.g. Sonskyn Dienssentrum in Bethlehem, and entities in Paul Roux, Kestell and Bohlokong. Also benefiting are various soup kitchens, pre-primary schools, Ubomi Sanctuary and other animal shelters; in total approximately 30 relief organisations. 

Approximately 60 individuals receive monthly meal support. All in all, close to a 100,000 meals in various forms are supplied monthly.

Meals on Wheels Bethlehem is a beacon of hope for many, making their challenges more bearable. If you would like to become involved in any way or contribute, please send an email to Justice Scott at info@changenetsa.co.za or WhatsApp 061 534 2311.

Photo 1: Maki Lekhotla at work in the Meals on Wheels kitchen in Bethlehem.

Photo 2: Thapelo Mosikili, who runs The White Blue Soup Kitchen in Bohlokong.