Artist exhibits new work to feed a need
Benjamin Constable, founder of FreshBox, will showcase his art at a fundraising art exhibition at Studio 031.
FORMER New Zealand basketball player Benjamin Constable, the founder of FreshBox, a locally based non-government organisation that sells boxes of fruit to raise funds to feed hungry children,is using his passion for art to expand the business.
Benjamin, who established the organisation last year after he discovered while coaching basketball at Carrington Primary, that 98 per cent of the learners did not eat a nutritious breakfast or lunch.
Determined to help, Benjamin, with the aid of local businessman, Colin Francke, came up with a concept to feed the children at Carrington Primary School, by selling boxes of fresh fruit to the community. The fruit is ordered online and the proceeds raised go towards feeding the children at the school.
“FreshBox has grown so much since we first staarted. We now have 120 subscribers on board who support this worthy cause. We recently partnered with iThemba Lethu’s schools’ project feeding children in Cato Crest, and have realised there’s a greater need in this area. We currently feed breakfast to 209 Grade 5 learners three times a week and are thrilled with this partnership, which we hope to grow. We also to deliver boxes to St Henry’s Marist College where parents and teachers buy fruit from the school. We have had a great buy in from the community and aim to reach 200 subscribers soon,” he said.
His desire to expand the business which operates from his garage at home has led him to turn to his love for art to help realise his dream. “My sisters are artistic and the two who are architects have also exhibited their art in New Zealand. I started painting six months ago when I got back from a trip to Sri Lanka, and I haven’t looked back, I love it!,” he said.
Benjamin describes his art as abstract expressionist, and he combines the swirls of Vincent van Gogh, Hans Hofmann squares, Jackson Pollock splashes and dots or pointillism of Paul Signac, to create his artwork.
“My first exhibition is entitled A Tale of Four Cities. This is related to my fascination with the four distinct cultures in Durban. I bring the four abstract styles together to make something beautiful in each piece. I have a fundraising goal of R300 000 which will be used to train staff and improve facilities, as well as to pay rent on larger premises,” he said.
The event will be held at First Thursdays at Studio 031 in Station Drive on 7 September from 5pm onwards.
There will also be a station set up where people can sign up for FreshBox. Entry is free.
About FreshBox
PEOPLE can sign up for FreshBox online and are billed at the beginning of the month.
Once they’ve ordered their fruit via the website they get their fruit delivered to venues in Glenwood where they then pick it up.
There are 25 different fruits to choose from with the purchase of a 3kg box feeding around one to two children, a 5kg box feeding two children and the proceeds from a 7kg box feeding up to three children. Customers subscribe at www.freshbox.co.za and can pick up their fruit from either Coffee Tree, Prep Room, Glenwood Bakery, Station Drive, or KZNSA Gallery.
“To fill orders, FreshBox purchases high quality bulk fruit at the Durban Fresh Produce Market at heavily discounted rates. We fill our customers’ orders and send all the remaining bulk fruit to our beneficiaries. Generally, for every FreshBox sold, we send twice that amount of fruit to a child in need,” said Benjamin.
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