THERE is relief for the poorest of the poor in Thokoza, thanks to the Mosamaria e Molemo Feeding Scheme.

The feeding scheme is run by the Anglican Parish of Saint Philip. The church provides food to pupils and indigents in the Ekurhuleni township.

On Mondays and Fridays long queues of hungry people gather at the church for a free meal.

Tryphina Moloi, 70, leads a group of women and men who cook and serve the food.

"We started four years ago after our priest became upset by the prevailing hunger in our area," Moloi said.

"We don't care where people come from. It could be from taverns, or anyone on the streets, we just give them food," Moloi said.

About 74 people receive food on every serving day from noon to 2pm.

"We are sponsored by Judy Trent who lives in the United Kingdom," she said.

Mosamaria e Molemo also caters for Grade R and Grade 1 pupils at Greenfields Primary School on the outskirts of Thokoza on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

About 70 pupils from the school receive bread with peanut butter and juice served by Moloi and her team.

"What you witness at the school is disturbing," she said. "Hungry children come to school without food and they are expected to learn on an empty stomach. We had to do something."

The scheme also caters for children at the Lindokuhle Crèche on Wednesdays and Tuesdays.

"Trent makes jerseys for children in the UK and supplies them to the first two grades at Greenfields Primary School," Moloi said.

The jerseys will be distributed on April 16.