GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Food Socks Graaff-Reinet, in partnership with Clean Trade, recently held a Human Rights Day initiative at Clean Trade's premises in the industrial area.

Everyone has a right to life and sufficient nutritious tasty food, said Kathleen Fitzhenry of Food Socks Graaff-Reinet, who provided food for the Clean Trade traders and volunteers.

Fitzhenry sponsored a 25L bucket of food sock chicken breyani to feed about 100 Clean Trade traders and volunteers, and 100 beneficiaries of Meals on Wheels in uMasizakhe.

Clean Trade, facilitating recycling, dignity and development, is a project inspired by Karin Marais and brought to fruition by Elaine Stanley and Tia-Mari Jacobs. 

The project encourages the community to collect rubbish in and around town and bring the clean, sorted recycling to Clean Trade's 'Red Container' in the industrial area, where it is exchanged for Clean Trade tokens that in turn are exchanged for basic essentials in the Red Container.

Stanley said the project aims to address two of the most pressing issues of our time: environmental degradation and the high levels of unemployment and poverty in the community.

From October 2024 to February 2025, over 32 tons (32 196kg) of recyclable materials were collected, not including non-recyclable waste. 

They have served 966 informal recyclers in the Red Container, many of whom have returned a number of times. 

All these traders have left with a minimum of a good meal. Many have left with much more.
"Clean Trade is undoubtedly making a meaningful impact in the community," said Stanley.

"This is only possible with the incredible support of the community, from 40 volunteers rolling up their sleeves, to monthly financial contributions, to once-off donations of money or supplies. Every contribution has played a vital role."

To ensure that this project is sustainable, Clean Trade requires a number of things, including food for the Red Container. 

Food Socks Graaff-Reinet has created a donation page for the community to donate food socks to Clean Trade for this container. The link to donate is www.foodsock.co.za/clean-trade

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