This month FoodBank South Africa (FBSA) bid farewell to Colin Fox, the former regional development manager for FBSA in the Eastern Cape.
Colin played an integral role in the establishment of FBSA. As head of the Eastern Cape branch of the Robin Good Initiative, one of the founding organisations that birthed FoodBank SA, Colin has been a part of the FoodBank family since its inception.
A founding member of FoodBank Port Elizabeth, he served as both a director and branch manager before the restructuring of the organisation, which led to the creation of one governance structure and a more centralized operation.
A community man to the core, Colin was involved in setting up and supporting the Bushy Park Farm School and the donation of a herd of pregnant heifers to the people of Ciskei before setting up Robin Good’s operation in the Eastern Cape – which all began inside his sister’s garage in 2000. (Much like FBSA, Robin Good sources excess food and distributes it to the needy.) “We quickly outgrew the garage and moved into containers donated to us by a church. We worked through churches mostly because we found there was goodwill, and they had the funds and skill to manage agencies.”
Eventually Colin met with Patrick Andries and Dean Hand, who were with FeedBack Food Distribution in Cape Town and before long decided to team up and pool efforts to have a greater impact. “At the time, we were distributing about 16 tons a month, feeding about 11,000 people,” says Colin proudly.
Those were sweet days, but Colin knew that to make a major impact it was necessary to join forces with others with the same objectives.
Reflecting on the highlights of his career with FBSA, Colin says meeting the late Bob Forney was a high point. “The encouragement I got from Bob was wonderful. He made me feel strong and made me believe in what I was doing. He gave great advice.
“My visit to the United States, as a guest of the Global FoodBanking Network, was also a great experience. I got to visit food banks over there and came back so pumped up it was like being converted.
“Shortly after that I attended the launch of Foodbank Cape Town and thereafter FoodBank Johannesburg at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It was one of the best things ever. I then managed to coax a lot of people there to support the launch of Port Elizabeth Food Bank. The PE launch was absolutely fabulous. We had national media coverage on SABC 1, 2 and 3 news as well as national radio coverage. I think it was as a result of that I was voted Citizen of the Year in the community service category in recognition of my efforts to uplift the poor in the Port Elizabeth area. It was a great honor. So I have sweet and fond memories of my involvement in FoodBank.”
Colin leaves FBSA to take up the cause of the physically challenged, although he will continue to involve himself in helping people to become food secure. “Food security is still dear to my heart,” says Colin, who is passionate about Robin Good’s Vegitunnel project.
Close on 75, Colin still has “bags of energy”. Apart from pumping that energy into community service, Colin will have more time to dedicate to his hobbies. He’s a miniaturist and an avid collector of hand-made knives and antique dolls.
Colin has been married to Maureen for 52 years. The couple does not have children of their own, but they have 17 godchildren – a testimony to their love of people and the love that others have for them.
“I would like to pay a very special tribute to the late Bob Forney, Maurice Weaver and Chris Rebstock – all of the Global FoodBanking Network, as well as to Alan Gilbertson and Carol Dixon. Each of these people have influenced me and helped me a great deal. I would like to extend to them a wonderful thank you. I’m deeply indebted to them, especially Alan and Carol.
“I wish FoodBank every success. I’m 100 percent behind what the company is doing,” said Colin.
Muzi Nkala, Colin’s successor, said Colin had added lasting value as regional development manager in the Eastern Cape.
“Working with Colin for the past three years has been both a blessing and a learning and growing experience. I respect him for his contribution to the organisation, especially in making FBSA’s Port Elizabeth Branch what it is today. We wish Colin all the best in his endeavours and are hopeful that we shall cross paths again as we have the same passion in our hearts: to serve the disadvantaged people of South Africa.”
From everyone at FoodBank SA, we wish Colin the very best in the next season of a life spent in service of the poor.
