On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, World Food Day, the Pots & Pens Campaign marched through the streets of Cape Town to Parliament. The purpose was to spotlight the vital role community kitchens play in fighting hunger within the city's impoverished communities.

Spearheaded by Food Agency Cape Town (FACT) and the kitchen’s network, which at the time included the Alcardo Andrews Foundation, Callas Foundation, Charmaine’s Kitchen, Chev’s Kitchen, Gogo’s Community Kitchen, Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movement, and Uphakanini Community Kitchen, the campaign aimed to raise awareness.

The march emphasized that community kitchens are more than just providers of food; they serve as crucial havens, offering access to essential social services. These services include assistance with Social Relief of Distress, child grants, old age pensions, and support for victims of gender-based violence.

The campaign urged government and other stakeholders to collaborate and ensure that community kitchens receive adequate resources. This support is essential to guarantee that people are fed, connected, and actively engaged in society. The campaign advocated for the redirection of funds and other resources to enable these community centers to continue providing dignity and support.

In summary, the campaign's core demands were:

• All communities must have access to nutritious and healthy food.
• Community kitchens should receive the necessary support to feed hungry families and deliver vital services.
• Support your local community kitchen.
• Food is a fundamental right, not a commodity.