Ford SA celebrates Mandela month rather than day

Mandela Day which is celebrated annually on 18 July and sees all walks of life donating 67 minutes of their time to charity is no strange concept in South Africa; however, Ford Motor Company Southern Africa took one step further. Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached local shores many South Africans have lost their means to generate an income and access to organisations which assist those in need. The latter a result of the care and safety measures required when reaching out to help those in need. The abovementioned not only has had devastating effects within the South African context but globally too as analysis from the World Food Programme suggest an additional 130-million people worldwide will be at the brink of starvation by the end of 2020.

“Food security is a critical issue in South Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the severity of the situation exponentially and many more South Africans will still fall under the food poverty and lower-bound poverty lines. Whilst there have been a number of interventions to provide food by the state, organised funds such as the Solidarity Fund, as well as efforts by private citizens and civil society organisations, it is clear that demand outstrips the supply of food to communities,” Yase Godlo, Director, Mandela Day and Outreach.

In an effort to mitigate the devastating effects, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, in collaboration with the Siya Kolisi Foundation and Imbumba Foundation established a food distribution programme. An initial contribution of R500 000 has been made to the programme named ‘Each One, Feed One’ which will go towards feeding households across South Africa. The ‘Each One, Feed One’ will focus on providing non-perishable food items to be distributed to communities in need.

The non-perishable food items will be packaged into healthy pre-packaged food parcels which will include maize, rice, yeast, brown sugar and cooking oils, as well as fresh fruit such as apples, oranges and butternut. Contributing to the important cause, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) and the Nelson Mandela Foundation partnered to assist in the distribution of the parcels. The foundation gained access to two Ford Rangers vehicles with which they can deliver essential food parcels across the country.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead,” Nelson Mandela.

The Ford Rangers which will be used for deliveries has a combined payload capacity of over 1 400 kilograms and enabled the 9 108 meals being delivered across the eight provinces in little time. Rough roads and terrain were also of no concern as the Ford Rangers feature advanced 4×4 capabilities to tackle those scenarios. With the programme that ran for the month of July benefitted 51 communities across eight provinces and included people with chronic illness and disabilities, as well as the elderly.

“Moments like these, where we are able to make a real, tangible difference in people’s lives, is so rewarding for everyone involved between Ford and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. To work together during this COVID-19 crisis requires resilience and determination – characteristics that were emboldened by Nelson Mandela’s road to democracy. We are exceptionally proud to support this charitable initiative with the loan of the two Ford Rangers to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Without the involvement and remarkable dedication of these organisations, the food parcels would not have reached the most vulnerable citizens of our country,” Neale Hill, Managing Director, FMCSA.

The public is encouraged to participate through monetary donations to the Nelson Mandela Foundation, or to Given Gain. These funds will not only support with purchasing specific goods but will also help with paying for structural needs in the distribution efforts. Please visit  www.nelsonmandela.org or www.givengain.com