Most days of the week, about 200 Richmond children come to the Hope Centre on the edge of town for a meal. They line up while plates are dished up, pray briefly and then rush off with their food to find a quiet place to eat.
The Hope Centre, funded by the American Rotary organisation, sources ingredients from Food Forward, which collects food that is about to expire. The centre also cultivates its own vegetable plot.
‘Schools can't always provide meals. But we want to nourish the children, not just give them food,’ says Kevin McKey, one of the trustees.
Richmond's youth deal with the issues prevalent in most poor platteland towns, says McKey.
There is alcoholism and drugs among parents and people in authority. It's a constant battle against…
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Getaway (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 2022