When There Is Not Enough Food

Most important right now: get food for today. Go to a clinic, church, mosque, temple or community kitchen, or ask a social worker for emergency food. If a child is weak, very sleepy or not eating, go to a clinic now.

Running out of food is hard, and it can feel shameful. It should not. Many working people in South Africa run short before month-end. Asking for help is the right thing to do, especially if children are hungry.

What is happening

Food help in South Africa comes from a few places. SASSA's Social Relief of Distress is short-term help for people in a crisis, and it can be given as food parcels, vouchers or cash. You apply at a SASSA office, often with help from a social worker.

Children at many public schools get a free meal each school day through the National School Nutrition Programme. Clinics check children's weight and can help underweight babies and children. Community kitchens, soup kitchens and food parcels are run by faith groups, NGOs and community organisations, and national NGOs such as FoodForward SA and Gift of the Givers support many of these.

If you have lost income, check if you qualify for a grant or for UIF. Food is the first need, but fixing income stops it happening again.

Signs to notice

• There is no food in the house, or only enough for a day or two
• Adults are skipping meals so children can eat
• Children are going to school hungry
• You are borrowing from a mashonisa to buy food
• You feel dizzy, weak or cannot concentrate
• You feel too ashamed to tell anyone

30-second self-check

Answer yes or no. If you answer yes to the first question, stop here and get help now: take the child to a clinic, or call 10177 for an ambulance if they cannot wake properly.

• Is a child or older person weak, very sleepy or refusing to eat?
• Is there no food in the house for today?
• Have adults gone a whole day without eating this week?
• Are children going to school hungry?
• Is income gone or late, with no date for when it will come?
• Are you borrowing just to buy food?

0-1 yes: If your yes was the first question, get medical help now. Otherwise things are tight but you have some time. Plan for the next two weeks.
2-3 yes: Get food help this week and look at your income.
4 or more yes: Get food today. Go to a community kitchen, faith group or social worker. Call the Cleared Mind 24-hour Careline on 0800 212 146 if you do not know where to start.

What you can do next

• Today: Ask at the clinic, school, church or ward councillor's office where food parcels or soup kitchens are. Take one step, even if it feels hard.
• This week: Go to SASSA or a social worker and ask about Social Relief of Distress. Check if children qualify for the Child Support Grant. Make sure children get the school meal.
• This month: Look at the income side: UIF, grants, a payment plan on debts, or a stokvel. A money coach can help plan the month.
• Avoid new loans from mashonisas to buy food. The interest can take next month's food too.
• Cheap filling foods like maize meal, samp, beans, lentils, eggs and seasonal vegetables stretch further.

Your tool

Social Support Needs Check - a short set of questions about food, money, housing and people around you, with a list of where to get each kind of help.

When to get professional help

Get help straight away if a baby or child is losing weight, very tired or not feeding, or if someone has a long-term illness and cannot eat. Hunger also takes a toll on your mind. If worry is taking over or you feel hopeless, talk to someone.
Who can help: social worker, community NGO, clinic nurse or doctor, money coach

Getting help in South Africa

• SASSA (sassa.gov.za): Social Relief of Distress and grants, including the Child Support Grant. Check current amounts at sassa.gov.za.
• Department of Social Development: social workers can refer you to food parcels and feeding schemes.
• Schools: the National School Nutrition Programme feeds learners at many public schools.
• Clinics: weight checks and help for underweight children.
• NGOs and faith groups: such as FoodForward SA and Gift of the Givers, and local soup kitchens.