When the news of the unrest in Kwa-Zulu Natal broke earlier this month, Feed the Nation Foundation took immediate action and pledged R1 million towards relief efforts, partnering with other aid organisations and mobilising staff and operations to provide large-scale relief to assist those most affected by the shattering effects of the violence and destruction.
As thousands tried to piece their lives back together after the turmoil, Feed the Nation was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and generosity from individuals, communities, businesses, and aid institutions around the country, all wanting to do their bit to bring an end to the chaos that has taken lives and livelihoods at a time South Africa can least afford it.
It is entirely thanks to this generosity that the scale and speed of relief efforts, both on provincial and community levels, as well as through direct interventions, was possible and remains ongoing.
With the support of Pick n Pay and Boxer teams on the ground, Feed the Nation Foundation partnered with African humanitarian relief and development organisation, JAM South Africa (JAMSA), to source and pack food and other essential items for 3 500 family hampers. Approximately 34 tonnes of stock were loaded in Gauteng for transport to Durban. Hampers were also delivered to affected communities in Gauteng.
An additional 10 tonnes of bulk groceries went to aid organisations, Food Forward SA and SA Harvest for distribution; and a delivery of baby formula, currently in critically short supply in KZN, was made to the Domino Foundation in Durban North.
Feed the Nation also facilitated 10 tonne’s worth of food parcels, funded by Discovery for their staff members and families affected by the unrest in KZN and Gauteng. Our teams in Gauteng started packing in the early hours of the morning to ensure our trucks were loaded and ready for the journey KZN, where our local teams on the ground assisted with the packing and delivery of the 250 food hampers. A further 30 hampers were delivered to Discovery’s affected staff members and their families in Gauteng.
Many animal shelters were in urgent need of food for the animals in their care; and petfood was delivered to the SPCA in Pietermaritzburg and to the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Durban. Both organisations are entirely dependent on donations and were in dire need of petfood following the unrest.
We are enormously grateful to all our partners, customers, store teams and volunteers without whom this scale of relief would have been impossible.
Feed the Nation Foundation is committed to bringing as much relief as possible to the affected areas, but there is still significant need, especially at care facilities, orphanages, and other vulnerable organisations. Many individuals are still without access to basic necessities, and we encourage our valued shoppers to join us in uniting the nation. Together we will restore hope in our beautiful nation.
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