Stormers support Feed the Nation campaign

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The Stormers are joining Pick n Pay and their customers in helping vulnerable communities in lockdown by supporting local shelters and feeding schemes across South Africa.

Pick n Pay has established the Feed the Nation relief fund to provide food and basic hygiene essentials to the most vulnerable during the lockdown period, and the Stormers are supporting this important initiative, which invites all South Africans to help feed the nation.

Stormers title sponsors DHL and Unitrans will provide logistical support to the campaign, and some suppliers have already pledged their support. Willowton Group, manufacturers of leading cooking oil brand Sunfoil, have donated 34,000 litres of cooking oil, as well as 68,000kg of maize meal and rice.

Stormers captain Siya Kolisi says that now is the time for South Africa to stand together.

‘This is our nation; these are our people. We need to help, you and I can help,’ he said.

Pick n Pay is encouraging customers to help Feed the Nation by donating at any Pick n Pay till or through the website. A donation of just R21 will provide a daily meal to someone in need for a week.

All cash donations will go directly to Joint Aid Management (JAM) and FoodForward SA (FFSA), with a focus on children and shelters. Collectively they work with organisations throughout South Africa and feed over 500,000 people daily.

Pick n Pay has contributed an initial R5 million together with the Ackerman family, and CEO Richard Brasher has also offered to donate half his salary this month to the campaign, along with other group executives. This initial contribution to Feed the Nation will be allocated to projects and organisations serving the most vulnerable.

Select stores will also start introducing Feed the Nation collection trolleys in stores for local welfare and charity organisations to help feed people in the store’s immediate community.

The Feed the Nation campaign will help those South Africans who rely on meal donations every day, and those who don’t have a support system to fall back on during this crisis, says Suzanne Ackerman-Berman, transformation director at Pick n Pay.

‘School closures have meant that many schoolchildren who were dependent on school feeding schemes for their main – sometimes only – meal of the day, have been left without food. Shelters for the homeless and orphanages who depend on public generosity are now without aid.

‘Just because we’re being asked to keep a physical distance from each other, doesn’t mean we can’t come together as one and help those who really can’t help themselves,’ said Ackerman-Berman.

Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

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Dylan Jack