Relate bracelets, the 100% not-for-profit social enterprise, has teamed up with Woolworths to launch the brand new Zero Hunger bracelet, with the proceeds from all sales going to FoodForward SA in a bid to help tackle the hunger crisis still impacting millions of South Africans every day.
FoodForward SA was created 11 years ago with the aim of addressing widespread hunger in South Africa by recovering quality edible surplus food from consumer goods supply chains across the country, for redistribution to charities that serve the poor and marginalised.
The significant achievements notched up by FoodForward SA include the creation of mobile rural depots as well as a digital platform to monitor availability and recovery of surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. These interventions help secure access to food for vulnerable rural communities across South Africa. FoodForward SA also partners with a variety of supply chain entities to provide nutritious meals to more than 200 community creches which feed around 25 000 children daily, as well as to primary schools.
“There are millions in our country who are skipping meals and going hungry for days,” says Andy du Plessis, managing director of FoodForward SA, pointing to the potential of the bracelets to significantly boost their cause.
“We’re so grateful to our individual and corporate donors, like Relate bracelets and Woolworths, who are integral to our efforts to scale up the work of FoodForward SA, and to be more agile in response to the country’s burgeoning food security crisis.”
Relate founder Lauren Gillis said the work of FoodForward SA is a timely reminder to all South Africans of the importance of citizens joining hands to help out wherever possible during these particularly difficult times.
“By joining hands with Woolworths, we at Relate hope to raise enough money to make a real difference to those who most need our help. By purchasing this bracelet, you too can stand in solidarity with those who are committed to fight the country’s widespread hunger scourge,” she says.
The bracelets will be on sale at select Woolworths stores and on the Woolworths website for just R35 each.
Gillis says the new bracelet is Relate’s latest contribution during what has been an extremely difficult year for people across the country.
“We at the Relate Trust have been working hard to raise funds that make a real difference to the lives of those South Africans most in need, and to ensure that this support continues uninterrupted going forward into the new year,” she adds.
