The Covid -19 pandemic is affecting all South Africans, but none more so than those who were already vulnerable and food insecure. There seems no end in sight for the 14 million people who go hungry every day. This daily struggle is evident in the number of requests that we receive from NPOs and individuals, looking for relief from hunger. From the very beginning of the lockdown Food Lover’s Market has worked with several incredible organisations, in order to assist vulnerable South Africans. Food Lover’s Market CSI initiatives aim to make a meaningful difference in our communities and our environment.
We have supported this wonderful organisation for many years. They provide food relief for over 1 000 NPOs and have provided over 26 000 000 meals since the beginning of lockdown. They are also the beneficiaries of our World Hunger Month campaign, which runs throughout the month of May each year. In 2020, through this initiative alone, Food Lover’s Market and our partners donated over 1 000 000 meals to Food Forward.
This is a new foundation, founded by our Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya and his wife, Rachel have been instrumental in ensuring that South African across the country have access to food by facilitating the distribution of food parcels into the communities. . We initially fed 400 children in Joe Slovo Park in Milnerton, through the Kolisi partnership with Lungi’s Kitchen. Currently, the soup kitchen is regularly feeding over 1 000 individuals. We also delivered fresh produce to 500 families will in Zwide, in the Eastern Cape.
3. ONGOING SUPPORT TO STORE PARTNERS
Each of our Food Lover’s Market stores supports an organisation, within 5km of their location, that is committed to the care of vulnerable children. We support the organisation by caring for their nutritional needs. Each store supplies fresh fruit and vegetables to ensure that the children are well-fed, especially through this difficult time in which school feeding schemes have been disrupted.
4. COMMUNITY INTERVENTION CENTRE AND POWA
We recognise that the lockdown has magnified societal challenges other than food security. In response to this Food Lover’s Market partnered with the CIC (Community Intervention Centre) in Cape Town and POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse) in Johannesburg for the 16 Days of Activism, who work to bring about awareness and put an end to women and child abuse. We donated over R 30 000 worth of sanitary items to be distributed as part of rape kits, that will be handed out to victims of assault and rape.
5. WORLD HUNGER MONTH
This is our annual flagship project, which is more relevant than ever before in the light of the COVID-19 crisis. In 2020, our collaboration with partners resulted in over 1 000 000 meals donated to Food Forward SA. Our partners were TRU-CAPE, SIMPL JUICE, CRESTSHELF, WESTFALIA AND ZZ2. In addition to our partners’ contribution, when participating products were purchased instore, Food Lover’s Market donated 1% of turnover on 28th May, World Hunger Day.
Thank you all for your support of our Earth Lovers initiatives. There has never been a time that we are more needed by our people and our communities.
LOOKING FOR A SPONSOR OR DONATION?
We are unable to assist individuals during this time. Should you be an NPO specialising in food security, we would like to encourage you to apply to FoodForward South Africa to be listed as a beneficiary organisation. Further information is available on their website www.foodforwardsa.org.
Keep safe. Keep sanitised!
