From food hamper campaigns to Digital Rands: Innovative ways to help those in need

Pick n Pay’s Feed the Nation campaign has raised more than R22.9-million to feed school children and families in vulnerable communities; 6DOT50 has created Digital Rands to help over 11 million people who do not have bank accounts purchase essential goods and limit the need for physical contact; and leaders in the film and entertainment industry have partnered together to launch SAFE (South African Fund 4 Entertainment) to help those most negatively affected (such as hourly-paid workers) by job loss and the absence of work.

With the help of customers at till points, benefactors and charities, the Feed the Nation campaign has delivered more than 13.8 million meals and food hampers to date – over nine times more meals since the launch of the campaign in April. These meals and parcels are being distributed among schoolchildren, shelters, orphanages, and vulnerable communities. 

Among the benefactors of Feed the Nation are Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, his wife Rachel, and Springbok legend Bryan Habana.

“Through partnerships with organisations like the Bryan Habana Foundation and the Kolisi Foundation, we can make a greater impact. Together we have been doing hundreds of food hampers for people across the Eastern Cape. He [Siya] wanted to ensure that Zwide, where he grew up, was fully taken care of and that no one was suffering from hunger,” says Suzanne Ackerman-Berman, transformation director at Pick n Pay.

“Habana donated R150,000 for food hampers, which was matched by Pick n Pay and also Siya Kolisi,” adds Ackerman-Berman.

Kolisi and Habana collaborated with Pick n Pay to hand out R450,000 worth of food parcels to three schools in Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain on 7 June.

 “We have to empower the parents so they can love and support their children. That’s why we are supporting this initiative [Feed the Nation], so the children can learn and dream freely without worrying about where their next meal is coming from,” says Kolisi 

Speaking on the initiative, Habana says that “it was seeing this incredible humanitarian aid giveback by both the Kolisi Foundation and Pick n Pay’s Feed the Nation, that we felt encouraged to collaborate with what I believe are two national heroes making a tremendous impact during these adverse times. I am filled with pride being able to play a small part in these inspiring efforts.” 

These schools were selected from Pick n Pay’s School Club. The principles of these schools then contacted the families of learners who were usually a part of the national feeding scheme.

Companies such as Pick n Pay, the Shoprite Group, and 6DOT50 have, independently, developed ways to help those in need and limit physical contact in an attempt to minimise the spread of the virus.

Pick n Pay has partnered with Joint Aid Management (JAM) to develop a digital voucher system, with vouchers being redeemable at Pick n Pay outlets and selected spaza shops.

Ackerman-Berman says that the vouchers are given to “beneficiaries within a community, who are sent a digital voucher on their cell phones. They can show the SMS together with their South African ID and they will be able to buy goods at selected spaza stores.”

The Shoprite Group has developed a similar virtual voucher system, with vouchers being redeemable at Checkers or Shoprite outlets.

In addition to virtual vouchers, customers can send money, for a fee of R9.99, to recipients without bank accounts at the Money Market counters located in selected Shoprite, Checkers and Usave stores.

6DOT50 has introduced Digital Rands and a 6DOT50 Covid-19 account to assist people to pay for much-needed food items. 

What sets Digital Rands apart from other digital vouchers is that purchasing these rands does not require a South African ID, meaning that foreigners legally residing or working in the country can also have access to them. One Digital Rand is equal to one rand in cash.