FoodBank, Stormers do it for Madiba

This Mandela Day, FoodBank South Africa is celebrating five years of providing food to over 1,000 community-based organisations across SA.

Since its formation in 2009, food to the equivalent of over 50-million meals has been distributed into impoverished communities via FoodBank’s partner non-profit organisations.

And, on Thursday, the Mayor handed over food hampers she and her staff had packed, to Bryan Habana, FoodBank SA’s Patron and a star player for the DHL Stormers and Western Province, at the Cape Town Civic Centre.

With the overarching objective of Mandela Day being to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so, to build a global movement for good, Habana (as FoodBank SA’s Patron) encouraged people to donate their time to fighting hunger and malnutrition on Mandela Day.

“A shocking and tragic 11-million South Africans are food insecure and what better day than Mandela Day for South Africans and South African corporates to get involved in helping the poor,” said Habana, who is packing his bags to further his career with top French club Toulon.

FoodBank South Africa runs corporate Hamper Packing Events throughout the year, offering teams the opportunity to purchase groceries from shopping lists supplied by FoodBank SA and to then pack food hampers for the poor. FoodBank SA supplies food to crèches, homes, hospices, care facilities and schools in impoverished areas.

South Africa produces enough food to feed its entire population, yet around a third of food produced each year ends up wasted and in landfill. Much of the food distributed by FoodBank South Africa is donated by major food producers and retailers just before it reaches expiry date. FoodBank collects this food, ensuring that as much as possible is rescued and does not end up on rubbish dumps. It then gets distributed to organisations working directly with the poor.

SMS the word ‘FoodBank’ to 40421 to make a R20 donation, which will enable FoodBank to provide food with which to feed 12 hungry people.

Visit www.foodbank.org.za to find out how YOU can make a difference!