JOBURG – World icon Nelson Mandela once said, “We do not want freedom without bread, nor do we want bread without freedom”.
This quote is something that Stop Hunger Now South Africa (SHN SA) still believes in.
According to SHN SA CEO Barry Mey, the organisation is on a mission to get meals which are high in nutritional value and donate it to young children at various pre-schools and crèches around the country. He said the organisation reaches out to schools which are unregistered as there is no funding available to look after the nutritional needs of the children.
“The majority of crèches are not registered in South Africa. By donating meal packs, the money saved on food can go to teacher training and infrastructure development.”
The organisation hosted a meal packaging day on Mandela Day at the Sandton Convention Centre and attracted close to 5 000 volunteers. The organisations media liaison officer Melinda Shaw said that the goal was to package 745 000 meals.
“I am surprised to announce that we surpassed this number by exactly 240 200 meals that added into a grand total of 985 200 meals.”
She added that the day wouldn’t have been possible without the help of famous personalities who donated 67 minutes of their time for a good cause.
“The highlight was when Madiba’s widow Graça Machel showed up and opened the day saying, ‘Well done! Wherever Madiba is today, you can be sure he’s smiling’.”
Other famous personalities who showed up to support the initiative were Mandela’s great-grandson Luvuyo Mandela, rugby player Pierre Spies, fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee and South African and international super model Kerry Mcgregor – to mention a few.
Johannesburg resident Gert-Johan Coetzee said he was extremely proud to be able to show his support.
“The Meals in Memory Project is a worthy project and something I was proud to be associated with. The number of people that showed up to pack food for children less fortunate surprised me and the crowd was alive with jokes and enthusiasm.”
In conclusion, Shaw said, “I want to thank everyone who took time to help out with the event. All of the hard work will now allow us to give hungry children in Johannesburg and Cape Town three meals a day for the next year.”
