This Mandela Day, 18 July 2022, Ladles of Love has not only smashed a world record but – more importantly – can feed those facing food insecurity, with the tins of food, fresh nutritious meals made on the day and with the money raised. While this was a huge undertaking, the organisation works tirelessly and all year long, supplying a million nourishing meals a month to communities in need.
Enthusiastic volunteers and concerned corporates converged on Cape Town’s CTICC and Johannesburg’s Nelson Mandela Square, to set the record for the world’s largest mosaic created entirely out of cans of food. The event was an unprecedented success, with volunteers who donated time and money pitching in to bring the food can mosaic to life and honour Madiba’s legacy to take action against poverty and hunger.
“We started so small. While walking, I encountered a homeless man wrapped in an old duvet. He was angry at the world, shouting and swearing. I offered him something to eat. The man stopped screaming, said thank you and was gone. The world is a different place when you are hungry. A basic need was met, and dignity restored – even just for a moment. At that moment Ladles of Love was born, and today eight years later we have grown exponentially – as has the hunger situation in our country, unfortunately.
“Today was huge, and the spirit of Ubuntu in both cities was incredible. We placed around 90 000 food cans on the mosaics across the two cities and we’ve raised so much in terms of actual food and support to carry on with our mission to feed as many people as we can for as long as we can, and we cannot thank those that got involved enough,” says Danny Diliberto, Founder and CEO of Ladles of Love.
The attempt was hosted in two of South Africa’s major cities to provide multiple ways for individuals and businesses to volunteer 67 minutes or donate to the cause.
The facts:
Johannesburg saw 32 040 food cans placed on the South African flag mosaic with Cape Town seeing 56 685 food cans placed on the Madiba mosaic.
There was 1.3 tonnes of veg chopped and donated in Johannesburg, with 2.5 tonnes chopped and donated in Cape Town.
7 000 sandwiches were made in Johannesburg and 24 000 made on site in Cape Town. A total of 55 000 were made (as many were made off site and donated).
Ladles of love extends a heartfelt thank you to all the people and businesses that stepped up to smash not one but two world records and to address the alleviation of hunger.
The event also succeeded in supporting these UN Goals:
GOAL 1: No Poverty
GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 13: Climate Action
GOAL 15: Life on Land
GOAL 17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goal
