Two Nelson Mandela University student entrepreneurs have extended their vegetable selling business to include a community outreach programme to benefit residents in the northern areas.
Veg To You founders Vuyo Tutu and Lonwabo Myoli have partnered with Bloemendal-based Kings Gate Revival Ministries in collecting donations and helping the church plant a vegetable garden for their feeding scheme.
Feeding about 8,000 mouths in Gelvandale, Bloemendal, Vastrap, Windvogel and other parts of the northern areas, The Kings Gate Revival Ministries Feeding Scheme was founded by the church’s leader, apostle Earl Piet, three years ago.
While it initially catered for Bloemendal residents, it has since been extended to 13 schemes in different parts of the northern areas.
“There are so many socioeconomic challenges that causes children to turn to gangsterism because they are hungry and some have too much time on their hands.
“Extending to more areas has been particularly helpful during the lockdown in preventing too many people gathering in one place.”
The feeding scheme depends on donors to cater for its beneficiaries almost daily, Piet said.
“We try to feed the people every day but that depends on how much we receive in terms of donations.
“For instance today [Monday], the Bloemendal feeding scheme couldn’t feed people but the one in Arcadia was able to,” he said.
The feeding scheme now has its own community garden where they planted vegetables last week, in partnership with Veg To You.
“If you give people fish, they will be dependent on you for more but if you teach them how to fish they can fish for themselves, so we though to have some youth to come and plant with us in the garden so that they learn what their efforts can bring,” Piet said.
The Kings Gate Revival Ministries has partnered with several Nelson Mandela Bay small businesses and individuals to maintain the community outreach programme.
“On my Facebook page, I am always asking for help so that people can be fed and when I recently came across Veg To You, they came on board to help donate food and other essential needs.
“They were helpful to supply us with seeds and some veg and fruit combos as well as planting the garden,” Piet said.
Posted by Earl Piet on Thursday, July 9, 2020
Veg To You co-founder Tutu said community development was an important part of their business.
“As a young business we hope to play a positive role within our local communities in upliftment and upholding the values of Ubuntu.
“This we believe truly defines what it means to be a company that is building a sustainable future for itself and community stakeholders,” Tutu said.
The duo founded the business in 2019, selling and delivering packaged fruits and vegetables in the city.
They have now expanded to selling other food and household items such as eggs and cleaning materials.
They collect donations of clothing, sanitary towels, food and money from customers to donate to Kings Gate Revival Ministries.
Follow The King’s Gate Revival Ministries Facebook page or contact Earl Piet on Facebook to donate.
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