SA Harvest and Daily Maverick unite to deliver hope with nutritional buckets in Gqeberha

A combined team from SA Harvest, Daily Maverick and the Missionvale Care Centre distributed 106 buckets of nutrition, new clothes for moms and babies and 106 bags of maize (5kg each) to parents and grandparents who had children in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro’s state hospitals on Friday, 13 December.

Felicia Hendricks from the Department of Paediatrics at Dora Nginza Hospital coordinating the distribution of buckets, maize and clothes to parents and patients.(Photo: Donna van der Watt)

The content of the buckets that were delivered on Friday. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

The SA Harvest and Missionvale Care Centre team delivered the next batch of buckets, clothes and maize to Dora Nginza Hospital in iBhayi, Nelson Mandela Bay. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

Many moms expressed their relief at having some food to take home as they were being discharged from hospitals. Others said it had been a very difficult year and were relieved to have one less thing to worry about.

Between Daily Maverick readers and a generous donation of R200,000 from clothing company H&M, the total raised for this reader holiday appeal project now stands at R715 065.

This is the second year that SA Harvest and Daily Maverick have joined forces to feed needy families during the festive season. Last year, the project provided enough food to feed 2,000 families for six weeks.

This year, in collaboration with SA Harvest, we are asking you to help us feed families that have suffered a medical emergency.

Read more about SA Harvest here. 

“We are eager to help as many children as possible. It was also an eye-opener for me to see wonderful women doing so much with so little,” SA Harvest’s chief operating officer Ozzy Nel said.

This is the first year that the campaign has gone national. The focus now shifts to KwaZulu-Natal where the final arrangements are being made to ensure a drop-off before Christmas. Nel said they would also drop off donations at hospitals in Gauteng and the Western Cape to make sure vulnerable families had some help this festive season.

Patients and their parents wait to get treatment or see their doctors in the Paediatric Oncology Ward at Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

Buckets filled with nutritious food, 5kg bags of maize and clothes for moms are dropped off at Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

A couple from Walmer, Pearl Tshangana and her husband Mzwaki looking after their grandson, Mzwaki, who is in treatment for cancer, were delighted by their gift. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

SA Harvest chief operating officer Ozzy Nel and SA Harvest national operations manager Eugene Kriel coordinate the drop-off of 106 buckets of nutrition, clothes and bags of maize at Nelson Mandela Bay Hospitals. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

Lucky Ngamlana from the Missionvale Care Centre joined Friday’s operations with his team to help. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

Moms with newborns received baby clothes in the Daily Maverick/SA Harvest bucket donation drive that took place in Gqeberha on Friday. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

Eva Emethe was on her way to receive radiation before going home for Christmas, and used her mom Thandazwa’s bucket as a chair. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

The team from Missionvale Care Centre who helped with the packing and delivery of the buckets, clothes and maize. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

After having a baby and spending weeks in the hospital, this mom, Phaphama Msizi from Kwazakhele, was delighted to be discharged and able to return home in a new dress with a bucket of food and maize. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

Patients line up to receive their food parcels and clothes from SA Harvest and Daily Maverick. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

Moms were delighted by the Christmas outfits they received. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

Dora Nginza Hospital social worker Portia Marinana helps with the distribution of food buckets, clothes and maize to patients. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

The mom of a severely diabetic patient was thankful for the nutritious food in the bucket. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

Moms and their children lining up to receive their gifts at Dora Nginza Hospital. (Photo: Donna van der Watt)

How to donate

We still need your help. Like last year, food insecurity remains rife in South Africa and families, already vulnerable due to high food costs, are left more vulnerable when suffering a medical emergency. At Daily Maverick, we believe in the power of people, not politicians. You can help to give our sick and injured children a fighting chance.

Use this link for donations.

Readers can also use SA Harvest’s bank details to make a contribution. Please add DM behind your surname as a reference.

Bank details 

• Bank: FNB


• Account number: 62693490478


• Branch code: 255955


• Branch name: Randpark Ridge


• Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ

For a R500 donation, you can bless a family with a child in hospital with a bucket containing 5kg of super maize, 400g of peanut butter, salt, 2kg of rice, 100g of mutton soya mince, a packet of soup powder, a tin of pilchards, a tin of baked beans, a tin of mixed vegetables, instant maize porridge, heat-and-eat soup, split peas, samp and jam.

You do not have to donate the full R500 — any donation will be welcomed and used to buy buckets of nutrition for this initiative. Please mark your donation with the reference Buckets.

If you would like to send a message of support with your bucket (or donation) please email me at [email protected] with your proof of payment and your message.

Read more about Buckets of Nutrition here. DM