Hyundai provides food relief

The South Korean automaker has donated of vehicles to Gift of the Givers and FoodForward SA – both non-governmental organisations who have made it their mission to distribute food to various communities in need.

Hyundai’s contribution includes eight vehicles, some five H100 light commercial vehicles, one H-1 mini-bus and two Grand i10s in panel van guise. The aforementioned organisations will use the vehicles in their drive to get food to communities where families have no income and severe food shortages.

Two of the H100 trucks and the H-1 Bus will go to Gift of the Givers, while FoodForward SA is to receive three H100 trucks and two Grand i10 Cargo panel vans. The H100 trucks will be fitted with closed canopies donated by Beekman.

“As an automotive company, it made sense for us to donate vehicles available for the transport of food and staff of the two organisations to bring urgent relief to fellow South Africans who are experiencing hunger and hardship due to circumstances that are completely out of their control,” said Niall Lynch, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa.

Gift of the Givers

The mission of Gift of the Givers, a non-governmental organization started by dr. Imtiaz Sooliman in 1992, is to provide nutritious food to impoverished children and families who are suffering in South Africa due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Gift of the Givers has worked in many countries around the world and is the largest disaster relief group of African origin.

FoodForward

FoodForward SA, established in 2009 to address widespread hunger in South Africa, has a permit to remain open during the COVID-19 lockdown, and it is working with a range of social partners to feed insecure households through its network of registered beneficiary organisations. The organisation relies on corporate and individual partners to implement its cost-effective solution to address hunger and promote social change.

Andy du Plessis, managing director of FoodForward SA, said before the impact of the pandemic, South Africa had 30 million people living below the poverty line and that millions of people, such as informal traders and day-job seekers, were surviving by earning a daily income. Many small businesses were also struggling to stay afloat; the country was in yet another recession – and then the COVID-19 struck.

“It is safe to assume that the Covid-19 collision will be severe and far-reaching, both in the short and long term. People relying on social grants will now have to stretch this meagre amount to help more family members.”