Roots Butchery brings 500 smiles to children at Tonga and Shongwe hospitals

Roots Butchery donated fresh fruit, yogurt and instant porridge to the paediatric wards at Tonga and Shongwe hospitals on March 30.
This is part of the store’s initiative to give back to the community and the needy.

According to the store manager, Daniel Ponte, who is responsible for all the Roots Butchery stores in Nkomazi, this is part of their new initiative, called 500 Smiles, with which they aim to bring smiles to 500 children in whatever way possible.

“We have given about eight crates of bananas, four crates of apples, four boxes of yogurt and some instant porridge today.
“We just wanted to bring a smile to 500 kids as part of our new initiative. I have had staff members visiting their loved ones in hospitals, and I would see them buying fruits and other things to take along. It triggered me.

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“I figured this might be one area at which we need to look for our next donations, as we have always been giving to schools and other parts of the community. It felt really great to see the little ones happy to receive these packs we have brought here for them today.
“We have always been giving back to the community through schools and sports programmes, but this is the first time we cover hospitals, so we have decided to cover them both at once, and we will be doing it regularly whenever possible,” said Ponte.

The visit started at Tonga Hospital. Ponte was joined by the Tonga Roots Butchery staff members and Mr Mpumalanga 2023 finalist, Sithembiso Mhlanga, who said he had joined the team because of his love of children.

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“I absolutely love spending time with children and being in their company. It brings me so much happiness to see them enjoying themselves and to learn about their interests. I also recognise that many children go through difficult experiences, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact our support can have on them. That’s why I believe it’s so important to regularly visit hospitals and show our support.

“I’m excited to keep brainstorming and coming up with new ideas that can help these children in any way possible. At the end of the day, my goal is just to make a positive impact on their lives and to help them feel loved and supported,” said Mhlanga.
Matsamo Mall Roots Butchery’s staff visited Shongwe Hospital to hand over some donations there, too. Roots Butchery will open a new store in Naas at the end of April.