Thava Indian Restaurant is responding to the desperate need for food in disadvantaged communities during the COVID-19 Lockdown with hundreds of hearty, hot and nutritious meals on a daily basis.
Thava (which has branches in Norwood and Montecasino) joined forces with Chef Philippe Frydman and NGO Nosh Food Rescue (which distributes food to the needy) and converted the Norwood restaurant into a community kitchen to prepare the first batch of 300 meals delivered to hungry children on 6 April, and another 400 meals of vegetable biryani and chicken korma which were delivered to Zandspruit on 7 April. Thava is donating time, resources, facilities, and staff to the initiative.
Mathew Abrahams, Thava Restaurant owner, explained, “We felt we must do something to alleviate the hardships experienced by so many during the pandemic. Our staff were quick to volunteer their services and we joined forces with Chef Philippe and Nosh. It almost immediately became clear that we can do so much more – and feed so many more people.”
Now the Thava and Nosh team is appealing to corporates, small business, farmers, and the public, to add their support so that we can grow the reach of the initiative:
- Farmers, producers, traders, businesses or people with an oversupply of stock are asked to donate. Specific items include meat, grain, lentils, vegetables, oil, fruit, bread, milk, packing material. “All donations will be accepted, and we will do our best to use them in our daily meal preparations.”
- No cash donations will be accepted. Thava has a list of suppliers and specific needs; donors can select from the list and phone through and order items directly from suppliers for delivery to Thava, according to their budget. Invoices are being created by the suppliers and delivery is confirmed with the donor, once received.
- To grow and be successful in this feeding initiative, the Thava and Nosh team needs an efficient distribution system which is run by volunteers who use their own vehicles to collect goods, deliver them to Thava, and then deliver prepared meals to the needy. Fuel costs need to be covered to ensure continuation of the project and funds can be paid directly into the local service station account – Engen Garage on the corner of Grant Avenue and Ivy Road in Norwood – and payment confirmation sent to Thava.
Frydman, who has been involved with Thava since 2010, adds his personal appeal: “To all the chefs of South Africa, please open your kitchens to provide meals for those people who need them. You will be doing what you are meant to be doing – and that is, feeding the people.”
Abrahams notes that the number of hungry is growing – the homeless, children who depended on school feeding schemes, daily workers who are now unemployed, and many others – and nourishing meals during lockdown will make a difference to their lives. He adds his thanks to all individuals, businesses, and farmers who are contributing to the massive undertaking.
To join the Thava and Nosh team in their efforts to feed those in real need during the pandemic, please contact the restaurant from Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm on 011 728 2826 or info@thava.co.za or Hanneke at Nosh Food Rescue on 082 338 4538.
For more information, visit Facebook.com/ThavaCuisine
Imka Webb is a freelance digital marketing expert and the digital editor of Food & Home Entertaining magazine. www.imkawebb.com
