Shoprite Checkers launches till-point donations for drought relief

The Shoprite group has launched its #ActForChange disaster relief fund.

The Shoprite group has heeded the call of South Africans who want to give financial assistance to those communities left without water as the country remains in the grip of the worst drought in decades by introducing a till-point donation facility.

Members of the public will now be able to assist in drought relief efforts while doing their grocery shopping at any Shoprite or Checkers supermarket by adding donations in increments of R5 to their purchases.

The group has been reaching out to communities worst hit by the devastating drought through its own Project Thirst initiative in KwaZulu-Natal as well as forming partnerships with a number of other organisations in other areas left without water. It has donated more than 300 000 litres of water and delivered thousands more to communities experiencing water shortages in recent weeks.

The cost of collecting water and transporting it across vast distances is, however, prohibitive. It is more economically viable to purchase large volumes of fresh water directly from supplier depots as close to the affected communities as possible. With Shoprite’s #ActForChange Disaster Relief Fund, the public can now assist to extend relief efforts substantially, as this will ensure that efforts are ultimately spent on purchasing water rather than the transportation thereof.

The money collected will initially be used to bring relief to those communities affected by water shortages. From time to time, however, the #ActForChange Disaster Relief Fund will also assist other disaster management initiatives on a national and community level, by providing relief to the people of South Africa, in partnership with organisations such as the SA Red Cross Society, Working on Fire and Foodbank SA.

The group has always been committed to supporting communities in need. Shoprite’s mobile soup kitchens have served more than 25-million cups of soup to date, while the group has donated more than R100-m worth of food to various organisations to fight hunger. Firefighters and those communities impacted by runaway fires are supported all year round. With the #ActForChange Disaster Relief Fund in place, South Africans can assist the Shoprite group in doing even more, making a difference in the lives of those in desperate need.

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