Over 3 400 families, in communities around Gauteng, have already received desperately needed food hampers, with each hamper feeding a family of 5 for up to a month. Saturday sees the next phase of the food drive to reach these 1 000 families in Soweto.
During the lockdown, ‘drop-in centers’ that usually provide one meal a day to thousands of vulnerable households across Gauteng, mostly for children who are orphaned due to chronic diseases and other societal challenges, were either closed or not fully able to meet needs. But the needs of these communities have not been limited to the lockdown, as the devastating economic effect of the pandemic continues, and the ripple effects expected to continue for many years to come.
The initial appeal to the Thebe Foundation was made on behalf of the 27 organisations that assist HIVSA (www.hivsa.com), a section 21 non-profit organization established to develop and implement social support programmes and strategies to improve the lives of people and most vulnerable in communities specifically within the greater Soweto, Alex, Orange Farm and Sedibeng regions.
This initiative has been made possible with the support of the Telkom Foundation, Pride Milling, and Thebe Investment Corporation.
“Our former president the late Nelson Mandela once said that ‘What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived; it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.’ This is precisely the reason why Thebe Foundation & HIVSA teams have continued to brace the challenges of Covid19 and ensured our people continue to be fed during the lockdown.
“The majority of us may take for granted that we have access to hot meals every day with no need to think about where the next meal will come from. Most of us have never had to go to bed hungry,” says Lehlohonolo Chabeli, Chief Executive Officer of the Thebe Foundation Trust.
Thebe Foundation Trust (TFT) challenges all companies, and their respective employees, within and outside the group, to make a pledge and continue to support this initiative even further, by making any voluntary cash and kind (product and logistics) contributions. Interested companies are asked to go to https://thebefoundation.org.za/ or email Phindi Nontlahla on phindi@thebe.co.za for more details about what items are needed or to request a pledge form.
Please continue to donate to this very urgent cause to feed the most vulnerable in our society as they try to rebuild their communities gravely affected by the pandemic.
