#Lockdown Challenge: Eat less and help the hungry
Antifreeze recently lost their largest monthly donor and all planned fund-raisers have had to be cancelled.
Operation Antifreeze, a registered non-profit organisation and public benefit organisation, is 20 years old this year and wants to ensure its doors stay open by appealing to help from the public during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Hilary Carhart, the organisation’s project coordinator and fund-raiser, said they recently lost their largest monthly donor and all planned fund-raisers have had to be cancelled.
“This leaves us in the situation that if we do not get creative and find a way to get funds in we will be closing our doors in a couple of months’ time.
“Antifreeze has been reaching out and making a difference in our community for 20 years and our 20th birthday cannot be marked by closing our doors!
“We are, however, resilient and innovative and will stand together and get through this challenge.”
Their answer to the current challenge is another challenge, Carhart explained – a challenge called #LockdownChallenge!
It calls on everyone at home to skip one meal a day (more if you want to) to show compassion and to stand in unity with those who are not fortunate enough to eat so well, for those who are going hungry every day and for those who don’t know where their next meal will come from.
Read: Shoprite Group stands with communities to bring much-needed hunger relief
“We can’t go out to exercise and are going to be much less active than usual, so eating a bit less will do us all good,” Carhart encouraged.
“Skipping a meal and experiencing a bit of hunger will make us appreciate our next meal all the more, will develop a spirit of gratitude and will make us realise just how blessed we really are.”
At the end of the national lockdown, the public is asked to donate the money they would have spent on the meals they skipped to Operation Antifreeze.
“It is imperative we are able to keep our doors open and continue to fight hunger and feed hope,” Carhart said.
“Each time you skip a meal take a photo of your empty plate and post it on Facebook, Instagram or Whatsapp it to friends and family and challenge them to do the same.
“Let’s make the #LockdownChallenge go viral.”
She reiterated that lockdown is going to have a huge impact on everyone and once it is over the need for help from organisations such as Operation Antifreeze is going to be huge.
Those who can’t skip a meal due to health or other reasons are asked to donate a percentage of the money they are saving on fuel in lockdown.
Tax deductible donation receipts can be issued for all donations.
For more information or for bank details email hilary@operationantifreeze.org.za or phone 072 959 7242.
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