#IMSTAYING crowdfunds R1 million on BackaBuddy to feed vulnerable South Africans

The implementation of the national lockdown to flatten the curve of Covid-19 infections has left many people in South Africa destitute without the means to earn an income and provide for their families.

To lend a hand during this time, Facebook group and registered non-profit organisation, #ImStaying, asked its over 1,1 million followers what they needed during this time.

Approximately 20 000 said they needed help with food and other necessities.

“We are facing incredibly testing times as a country. I put out a call to our members recently asking who was in need of food, and to my total dismay, we had thousands of responses, many of which were seeking aid for themselves and their family members” said group founder Jarette Petzer, 39.

Honouring social-distancing guidelines, #ImStaying launched a campaign on donations-based crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy on 21 April to raise funds to purchase digital food vouchers to help feed as many South Africans as possible.

With overwhelming support from 1 752 donors from South Africa and abroad, just short of R1 million has been raised thus far to feed over 24 000 individuals affected by the lockdown.

Approaching this milestone, Jarette shared this message of thanks:

“As a community, we have to stick together. Those of us who can should try to share the burden. There is only one way through this and that’s together. With our BackaBuddy campaign, we will continue to do our best to help as many people as possible on a first-come, first-serve basis,” he said.

Support #ImStaying’s crowdfunding campaign here.