The volunteers distribute the food parcels to people and families they visit. Parcels are often brought to grandparents looking after their orphaned grandchildren. Parcels are also taken to homes where there is someone sick or dying of HIV/Aids.

By western standards, these food parcels are relatively small. One of the reasons is that, being small, they are easy for volunteers to carry when they go to visit. None of them has a car and they often walk over 5 km to visit a family.

Each parcel costs about $7 and usually contains some milli maize, also called corn meal, rice or dried beans, a tin of fish, soup packages, some tea and some sugar. Milli maize is the most common food in the Zulu diet. It is used to make porridge like mush eaten at most meals. The main meal of the day consists of beans, rice or milli maize served with a soup like mixture with meat and vegetables if they are available. Tea is also included because fluids are very important to people sick with HIV/Aids.

The parcels should also contain fresh fruit or vegetables but this is usually not possible because of the cost. The volunteers have been encouraged to have gardens, associated with each project where vegetables such as chard, cabbages and squash can be grown and distributed to those in need. All three projects have benefited from the donation of seedling and seeds in the past.

Food provides hope in a number of ways. It keeps people from going hungry and provides much needed nutrients to those who are sick. These parcels also let people know that they are not alone in their difficult circumstances. The parcels also give the volunteers the sense that they are not alone in their task of supporting the poor, sick and dying. They feel supported by brothers and sisters around the world.

Recently someone contacted CRWRF for more information about Parcels of Hope. She wrote:

"My birthday is coming up soon and rather than more earthly possessions for my home, I prefer to accept donations for Parcels of Hope..."

Now that’s a great idea!