The Thebe Foundation Relief Fund, an initiative launched at the beginning of lockdown to
help feed the country’s most vulnerable communities, is continuing with food relief this Saturday, 18 July 2020, with hampers being distributed to feed another 1 000 families in the Soweto.
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 even more (1000) families in Soweto, one of many communities that have been hard hit due to the economic impact of lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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,” says Lehlohonolo Chabeli, Chief Executive of the Thebe Foundation.
“It is indeed a Mandela day like no other. This special day is commemorated in the midst of a global pandemic that is having an impact in communities around the world, more so here at home. It is a time where we dare not linger so as not fail those who need our support. We continue with our efforts to help our communities to fight hunger while at the same time being careful to protect and minimize the risk to our beneficiaries and volunteers from the virus, and for this, we remain grateful to all our partners, ” he says.
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.
ENDS
The Thebe Foundation Trust (TFT) was established in 2011 by the Thebe Investment Corporation (TIC), to maximize and continue driving community development leading to empowering communities and changing lives. Founded in 1992 by Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Beyers Naude and Dr Enos Mabuza, the Thebe continues to embrace communities as integral partners and stakeholders when doing business. For more information, go to https://thebefoundation.org.za/.
