The Lions District Food Project provides food for nearly 60,000 people each day.

We supply food to schools, orphanages, soup kitchens, senior homes, shelters and many organizations and clinics that assist people suffering with HIV/AIDS
and Tuberculosis.

Lions in District 410A have distributed food for nearly 39 years. They currently provide 20 million meals a year. Every day - 365 days a year - Lions pick up food that is safe and edible but that is no longer being sold at Pick 'n Pay Stores. “Since we have no refrigeration or storage facilities, each day we have to sort, pack and deliver the food that would otherwise go to waste,” says Stuart McPherson Food Project District Chairperson. “We pick up food in six light delivery vehicles from 56 stores and distribute it to more than 300 organisations. The demand for food far outweighs the supply but we spread what we get to as many people as possible.”

At soup kitchens in poor communities such as Egoli, children and elderly adults begin lining up as the smell of food starts wafting from the small kitchen run by a resident.

Every day Lion heroes bring vegetables, including potatoes and tomatoes, and other ingredients to be made into soup. The soup is served along with rice and rolls. Around 300 people in this area of makeshift homes enjoy a hearty meal thanks to Lions.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and retired Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu serves as the patron of the food project. “When someone is weeping, God would like to wipe away the tears from their eyes,” he once said, “but cannot unless you, you, and you are the means. God smiles through the tears because he has such fantastic partners - you, the Lions.”

This food redistribution project is unique inasmuch as it is managed and operated essentially by volunteers. It is also very cost effective with monthly operating costs of R30,000.

On the 26^th June 2008 at the Lions International Convention in Bangkok the Lions District Food Project received the International Challenge to Change Award in the category Continuing Projects.

District Governor Paula Lang collected the award on behalf of the many Lions and Lions Clubs who, over the past 38 years, have served in this outstanding project with so much passion, loyalty and commitment.