Jet and Nashua spoil children with Protea Glen Mall shopping trip

50 children from Waterwax Informal Settlement were treated to a shopping spree courtesy of Jet Stores and the Nashua Children’s Charity Foundation (NCCF) which, for some of the children involved, was the first time they had ever set foot in a mall, let alone been given the opportunity to choose their own new clothes and be treated to a lunch afterwards.

This was part of a nation-wide shopping spree which took place at eight different Jet Stores in eight different provinces and resulted in more than 400 children receiving new clothes. Collectively, Nashua spent a total of roughly R54 000 in Jet gift cards, with the Nashua franchises in each of the regions taking part supplementing any shortfall in their expenditure for the shopping sprees.

After all 50 of the children had chosen outfits and posed for a group pic, they were treated to lunch at McDonalds where many a happy child enjoyed a delicious meal and a perfect end to the day.

“The response from the children is overwhelming,” said NCCF director Helen Fraser. “Many of them have never received new clothes. The joy these children experience through the simple act of being able to choose new clothes is a wonderful thing to see.”

The Jet / Nashua Shopping Spree initiative was started six years ago when Helen approached Jet Stores’ holding company Edcon requesting any clothing that they could spare for the children under the NCCF’s care. From that initial conversation the idea was born to invite children from the orphanages and schools that receive aid from the NCCF to visit a Jet Store in their area where the children would be given the opportunity to choose an outfit for themselves and be treated to lunch afterwards.

Over the years that the Shopping Spree has taken place, the budget has increased from R60 000 to R120 000 and the Jet Stores involved have increased from one to eleven.

“Jet Club is very proud to be able to contribute towards such a worthwhile and heart-warming initiative, but what we never anticipated was how much our staff and all other parties involved would enjoy these annual shopping sprees with the kids. It’s true what they say, giving really is better than receiving.” said Jet Club Manager Ephraim Mamabolo.

“My hope going forward is that we can involve more Jet Stores and charities from all over the country in these shops and with the help and support we’ve received from everyone involved thus far, I am confident that we can achieve that goal,” concludes Fraser.