During the lockdown, volunteers from the Beacon Valley Walking Bus have turned their focus from walking pupils to school to feeding them and their families.
Helped by their neighbours, the volunteers have been handing out food in Buick Crescent Park. The school pupils take priority followed by any adults who need a meal.
Volunteer Carol Mentor, said there was a great need in the area, and they were prepared to do whatever was necessary to help each other during a “difficult time”. She said they practised physical distancing and sanitised the children’s hands.
It was also an opportunity, she said, for organisations such as Safeline, a child-abuse treatment and prevention centre, to run awareness programmes.
“We want to tell the children of good and bad touches and that they should speak to someone they can trust.”
According to Ms Mentor, their Walking Bus contracts with the City of Cape Town ended yesterday, Tuesday June 30, but they would continue to help where needed.
Walking Bus started as a voluntary safety initiative nearly four years ago and is now running in 56 areas across the metro with some 1 700 members who walk children to and from school.
Call Ms Mentor at 076 468 5451 if you want to support the feeding scheme.