Under the banner of its Act for Hunger Relief corporate social investment program, the Group is using its scale as the country’s largest retailer to make a daily difference in the lives of more than 11 million South Africans who live without the security of access to regular meals.
In partnerships aligned to fight hunger, the Shoprite Group has donated R92.4 million worth of food to FoodBank SA in the past year, provided daily meals for children fed through Stop Hunger Now SA and on an ongoing basis helps those most in need by giving surplus food donations from store operations to local charities and community groups.
On World Food Day itself the Shoprite Mobile Soup Kitchens will be serving close to 15 000 meals in impoverished communities across the country. Areas to be visited with nutritious soup and bread will include Bizana (Eastern Cape) in support of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ activities; Nyuswa (KwaZulu-Natal); Tsakane (Gauteng); Madubaduba and Lenyenye (Limpopo); and Mabitse (North-West). Shoprite’s Mobile Soup Kitchens have since inception served over 24 million healthy meals to communities in plight all over the country and 5 million meals served in the past year alone.
The Group has also committed to establish and grow sustainable community food kitchens across the country. Pilot programmes include a community food garden established in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town which will yield some 4 tons of fresh produce annually and enough vegetables to feed 1000 learners daily. Any excess vegetables from the garden will be sold within the community to generate additional income to supplement these meals.
Until the end of October, Checkers customers can participate in a food collection drive to assist in the retailer’s Act for Hunger Relief effort by supporting FoodBank SA with donations of non-perishable food items. These items will be distributed by FoodBank SA to verified non-profit organisations that collectively feed thousands of hungry people daily.
