Be part of one of SA’s biggest national food drives this Mandela Day
The goal of the food drive is to collect 250 tonnes of food over three days to provide over a million meals.
The Mandela Day Food Drive is a project of Pick n Pay & FoodForward SA.
“The reality in our country today is that millions continue to go to bed hungry every day,” said Suzanne Ackerman-Berman, director of transformation at Pick n Pay.
“Together we can make a difference in the lives of the many South Africans that require assistance. We are inviting South Africans to help us provide baskets of food to those beneficiary organisations who can’t afford them.”
Last year, the inaugural food drive donations equalled to just over half a million meals. The hope is to double the amount of donations this year.
To assist in achieving this, Pick n Pay has increased the number of stores participating by 30 per cent when compared to last year. The food drive collection weekend – running from July 13 to 15, will see various food collection bins being placed in in over 500 Pick n Pay stores across the country.
The food list items include rice, maize meal, spaghetti, samp & beans, lentils, pilchards, tuna, long life milk, oats, jam, peanut butter, cooking oil, sugar and salt.
“There will be volunteers in-store engaging with consumers and educating them about the initiative. We will also be catering for cash donations at the till points and customers can donate from as a little as R5,” said Ackerman-Berman.
The Mandela Day food donations will help FoodForward SA stock their warehouses across the country with staple foods over the winter months.
FoodForward SA’s Managing Director, Andy du Plessis said, “The food donations are distributed over six months, ensuring that we are able to provide our beneficiaries with a varied basket of nutritious foods.
“The generosity and support of this Mandela Day Food Drive directly benefits thousands of people, but also creates much needed awareness of the work we do. Our work is to address the problem of food insecurity in South Africa and this campaign is definitely having a big impact.”
“Everyone can be involved in this special campaign through the donation of time, a small cash donation or a basket of food items. All these efforts and actions add up to something really meaningful for so many of our fellow citizens in need,” concluded Ackerman-Berman.
For more information visit www.foodforwardsa.org/campaigns/mandela-day-2018/
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